CM pulls up officials stonewalling participation of cooperatives in contract works

The public at the Chief Minister's stop-over at Khamdong on Saturday. [pic: IPR Deptt]

CM pulls up officials stonewalling cooperative involvement in contract works
GANGTOK, 17 July [IPR]: On the 25th day of his village-to-village tour of the State yesterday, the Chief Minister, while explaining the declaration made by him a day earlier of allotting contract works of up to the value of Rs. 2 Cr to cooperative societies, asked government officials dealing with such works to treat cooperative societies at par with the other contractors.

“It has come to my knowledge that certain departments are not giving adequate justice and equality to cooperative societies and this should be avoided,” the CM categorically stated.
Cooperatives have been encouraged in contract works in the state in order to provide opportunity to the rural people and to do away with middlemen in such works, the CM explained.
In this context, the CM also directed the Public Works Department to fix the rate of engaging Backhoe (Dozer) in such works as the few dozer owners belonging to the society’s elite have monopolise the trade, exploiting the cooperative societies and making profit from the contract works in the name of engaging dozers in the absence of a fixed rate.
“This is having a negative impact on our policy which is aimed at economic upliftment of the rural poor,” the CM said.
Also on the day, at Sakewa Bazar, Martam, the CM laid the foundation stone of a Kisan Bazar and the office building of Block Administrative Centre, Martam. He also inaugurated the BAC, Martam located in a rented building at present.
Commenting on the importance of Kisan Bazars in the future, the CM said that the concept behind the Kisan Bazar was to develop this area as a centre for collecting and marketing organic products of the state.
The state government is in the process of getting organic certification for the agricultural and allied products of the state. In this way the organic products accumulated in the Kishan Bazar can be marketed nationally and internationally. The organic products will be in huge demand nationally and internationally and will fetch good price for the farmers, the CM said.
At Dipudara, the CM inaugurated a six-room building of the Dipudara Primary School constructed by NHPC.
During the day’s tour, the CM addressed the public at Sakewa Bazar, Martam; Sang Sr. Sec. School; Sakyong Namgethang JHS and Sonamati Memorial Govt SSS, Khamdong.