‘Mission Sikkim needs people’s participation to succeed’

CM TOURS GANTHANG-MACHONG ON DAY-32 OF SIKKIM BHRAMAN

PAKYONG, 25 July: “The mission to make Sikkim a Model State is a big challenge, but an obsession that I have taken up and will pursue diligently,” Chief Minister Pawan Chamling reassured the handsome gatherings which had turned up for his halts along parts of Gnathang-Machong constituency today, the 32nd day of his village-to-village tour of the State.
The missing targets were clear, he said – a house for every Sikkimese, land for the Sukkumbasis, good health, good education, justice for all and an end to all forms of disparity and denial. The policy interventions and political will required to achieve these goals were in place, and what was now required was the active participation of the people, without which the final steps cannot be spanned, he said.

Today, the CM interacted with the people of Latuk-Chochen Pheri GPU, Rikyap, Machong, Parakha and made his final stop-over at Linkey.
In his address at Chochen Lake premises, the CM mentioned that the panchayats have been working only on physical development of infrastructure and stressed that they also needed to work on making the people aware, keeping them informed and thus making them more capable. 
Here, responding to the people’s demand seeking the cleaning and maintenance of the lake, the Chief Minister pointed out that the lake was the property of the people. The infrastructure has been created by the government and it is the people’s duty to protect and maintain it. This lake can become the medium of progress for the area and the people claim ownership and deliver on their responsibilities towards the asset and themselves, he said. He did, however, also direct the Tourism Department to prepare a proper proposal for sustainable protection and maintenance of the lake.
He also sanctioned other demands placed by the people of the area and assured them that these will be taken up phase-wise. 
Then, the CM has laid the foundation stone of a Mangkhim at Rikyap in Machong.
Addressing the people here, he stressed that the identity and protection of the state depends upon the identity and protection of every community. It is with this conviction that the government has been working for the protection and development of every community here, he said.
He also urged the people to power efforts to preserve the culture, traditions, heritage and identity of the state.
The estimated cost for the construction of the Mangkhim is projected at Rs 17 lakh. The CM assured to provide some financial support to start the project by September and release the full amount next year. He also sanctioned other demands placed by the people of the area.
Next, he visited and interacted with the people at Machong Gumpa.
At his next halt at Parkha, the CM announced that in a move towards institutionalising improved civic responsibility, the government was preparing a law which would require government employees to clear their electricity, water and sewage bills before receiving their promotion. 
He also explained today that the village-to-tour which was bringing the government to the people was as much to understand and receive their demands and aspirations as also to take a first-hand account of the specialty, natural resources and potential of each area.
He explained that the demands put forward by the people will be sanctioned in two phases with the first phase sanctioned by September itself. Of all the demands forwarded by the people till date [regarding schools], 25 auditoriums and 50 school buildings have been sanctioned by the government, the Chief Minister informed.
As has been a consistent aspect of his interactions, the CM also devoted a substantial part of his address to the students, whom he informed about the various schemes and scholarships instituted for them and spoke on what was expected from the next generation.
At last halt at Linkey, the CM made special mention of the women’s empowerment initiatives of the State Government.
The government has put enabling rules, reservations and laws in place to ensure that women enjoy equal rights and privileges in Sikkim, and it was now for them to measure up and seize these opportunities, he stressed.