DAY-13 OF SIKKIM BHRAMAN TAKES CM FROM TASHINDING TO PELLING

“Build stronger resolve to stand up for your rights”

SAGAR CHHETRI

PELLING, 10 June: Chief Minister Pawan Chamling began the second day of his West Sikkim village-to-village tour [his 13th day of the statewide travel] by offering prayers at a temple at Tashiding from where he proceeded to Chongrang to lay the foundation stone of a Block Administrative Centre and a Kisan Bazaar there. On the occasion, Tashiding Senior Secondary School felicitated the Chief Minister for opening a Science stream in the school.
He continued a hectic day of travelling and interaction, conferring with people from Gerethang, Arithang, Chongang, Tingting, Mangsabong, Thingling, Tathang, Melli, Khechupuri, Rimbi, Darap, Pelling and adjoining areas.

He set the tone for the day – empowerment – at his first halt of the day at Tathang under Yuksam-Tashiding constituency, where he explained that his move to bring the Government to the doorsteps of rural and remote Sikkim was to boost the morale of the people, convince them that the Government cared and to push them to develop a stronger resolve to stand up for their rights. People from Melli-Aching, Khecheopalri and Yuksam-Dupdi GPUs had gathered here.
He reminded the people that a stronger mindset would automatically create a more involved and responsive society which would make the best use of the infrastructure and opportunities created by the State Government in the past 18 years of SDF Government.
To reinforce his call to the people to stand up and demand for better, the Chief Minister expressed dissatisfaction with the 25 “model houses” constructed at Middle Chongrang. Only three of these 25 units are in use. Dismissing these houses as “White Elephants”, he directed the concerned department to make use of these houses for the benefit of the local people immediately.
The leaders and the people, he stressed today, need to understand their responsibilities towards the society and Sikkim rather than pursuing personal gain.
“Only a weak person pursues personal gain, resorting to conspiracy by misleading the people through anonymous letters and videos while a stronger man accepts the challenges,” he said.
The CM highlighted that until the society debates and discusses the policies of the State, delivery will not improve to the level that the people expect and deserve.
He also explained today that the State Government’s focus on tourism and organic farming was to address the challenge of unemployment because these sectors provided gainful self-employment and improved earnings.
Also today, he announced that he has cleared the proposal of the people to build a ropeway at Phamrong Falls.
“It has come to our knowledge that the Tashiding Hydroelectric Project is not following all the points of the agreement with the State government which is causing problems for the local people, so it will be stopped till it adheres to all the points of the agreement,” he further announced.
Responding to the demand for a degree college at Gyalshing, he directed the concerned department to immediately start a college from rented accommodations from this month itself.
He also clarified that demands will be sanctioned on the basis of the need of the people and not in the interest of the contractors. The Chief Minister also declared that the salary of the ASHA and ICDS workers will be hiked in the next three years.
At Pelling ground, the last halt of the day, the Chief Minister interacted extensively with the students of Pelling Senior Secondary School. The students, in turn, appraised the Chief Minister about the poor condition of the hostel facilities, laboratory equipment and infrastructure at the school. They also informed him about the lack of teachers for various subjects.
The Chief Minister assured the students that in tune with the policy of the state government all the facilities required by students will be fulfilled and directed the department officials to take note of the problems faced by the students and take corrective measures immediately. He called on the students to focus on their studies and self-improvement, reassuring them that all their requirements will be looked after and that they should concentrate on not only acquiring degrees, but also building confidence and a competitive edge.