CM spends 2nd anniv of 4th term on the road

SIKKIM BHRAMAN ROLLS INTO NAMTHANG-RATEYPANI
PURAN TAMANG
NAMCHI, 20 May: Chief Minister Pawan Chamling spent the second anniversary of his fourth consecutive term in office on the road touring through villages in the Namthang-Rateypani constituency in South Sikkim today, the fourth day of his 36-day road-trip of Sikkim. In his interactions with the people, he informed them of the current year being observed as the Year of Innovation, which he was kicking off with “innovative governance” by bringing the government to their doorsteps. Of the people, he sought more involvement in the process of development. He commented that too many “minor demands” were being raised during these interactions when he had expected the people to come up with projects which were more long-term and, well, “innovative”.
“Our people will not rise from poverty and dependence only with infrastructure development. It is when everyone leverages the improved infrastructural facilities and new opportunities for self-reliance that the future can be secured,” he stressed.
Material development should not be the only legacy they leave behind, he said, while inviting the people to collaborate with the State Government and develop Sikkim into an Eco-City State so that the future generations inherit not only a robust economy, but also a healthy environment.

The CM started his tour with his first stop-over at Lower Phali-Phong under Maniram-Singithang GPU where he met the villagers and asked after their complaints, demands and suggestions. Water scarcity remains a continuing challenge in most parts of South district, and here as well, the people demanded a permanent solution for the drinking water supply which was sanctioned on the spot.
At his next halt of the day, the CM inaugurated the State’s first MGNREGA Rajiv Gandhi Sewa Kendra at Tanjzi Bikmat GPU [under BAC Namthang].
He also inaugurated a computer room where people will now be able to access the Management Information System of the MGNREGA.
A visit to the Adult Learning Centre here impressed the CM as he learned that 21 senior citizens were enrolled there to gain literacy. He saluted their spirit and urged others to take inspiration from them and realise that age was no bar for learning.
The CM also interacted with the villagers of Tanzi-Bikmat and sanctioned demands for a roof-water harvesting project and road-related works.
After Bikmat-Tanzi, the CM travelled down to Rateypani where he inaugurated a 6-room school building for the Secondary School.
The new building left the CM unimpressed as he expressed dissatisfaction with the construction and directed the RMDD Secretary and HRDD officials accompanying him to monitor such works properly. He stressed that officials need to monitor such works on a regular basis and ensure that no compromises are made on quality.
To the people, he reminded that these were public properties and it was also their responsibility to ensure that quality work was delivered.
Addressing on the demand of the people for the establishment of an Indian Institute of Information Technology, the Chief Minister said Rateypani will be considered on priority for establishment of such an institution and necessary survey for acquiring land shall be done.
The CM then moved to Nagi Dara where he first offered prayers at the Nagi Gumpa and met with villagers of Namthang, Nagi Dara and surrounding villages.
Here again, he shared that the demands reaching him were all essentially material in nature whereas he had hoped that there would be as many demands of social and community aspects.
He reiterated that the sanction of material demands required matching community-level commitment to utilise the infrastructure and opportunities for the desired ends.
Here as well, the demands were for drinking water supply, roof-water harvesting, school buildings and road reapirs, all of which were sanctioned.
The Chief Minister then visited Kaizaley and Sumin-Khor villages and sanctioned similar demands.
The Chief Minister is keeping a hectic schedule. After completing his strenuous travelling of the day, he was back in Gangtok and night and scheduled to leave early Saturday morning to continue the road-trip into Temi-Namphing constituency.