ASESE&UA assembles in ‘peaceful gathering’, announces ‘Stop Corruption Mission’

ASSC WELCOMES STATE GOVT MOVE TO REDUCE NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES ON SERVICE EXTENSION
GANGTOK, 15 Feb: Ten executive members of the All Sikkim Educated Self Employed and Unemployed Association [ASESE&UA] stood in, what they pegged as a, “peaceful gathering” in front of different government offices today to press issues which the association has been raising for some time now.
The dharna was led by the association president Nawin Kiran and started from Tashiling Secretariat, moving to Urban Development & Housing Department, Excise Department and concluded in front of the Sikkim Public Service Commission office.
Speaking to NOW!, Mr Kiran, on behalf of the association, expressed gratitude towards the Chief Minister for having reduced the number of government employees on service extension.
This, he informed, had been informed to them by “sources” and was gesture which the association welcomes. The ASESE&UA, it may be recalled, has spoken frequently against the practice of retaining government officers in service even after their superannuation.
Mr. Kiran further stressed that the practice of service extension needs to be stopped completely, arguing that only that would create more employment.
The ASESE&UA also welcomed the recent surprise inspection carried out by the Chief Minister of the District Administrative Centre in Namchi and for having directed appropriate action against absentee officials.
The initiative should be sustained, he said, since there were still many government employees who did not report for duty on time and caused avoidable hardships to the lay people.
The ASESE&UA general secretary, Ritesh Rai, in turn informed that they were now planning to launch a “Stop Corruption Mission” in Sikkim to stem the malaise which has struck deep roots in the State.
This “mission”, he said, will be directed against government officials and contractors against whom relevant information is collected through RTI. These details, he said, will be submitted to the Vigilance Police and the media for action and public record, respectively.

[SAGAR CHHETRI]