Thupden Lachungpa condemns Coop Deptt statement on cooperatives for Lachung

GANGTOK, 17 June: Thupden Norzang Lachungpa, president of Lachung Dzumsa Educated Unemployed Cooperative Society, engaged in a tussle with the Lachung Dzumsa over the cooperative society and who has been boycotted by the Dzumsa, has condemned a recent statement attributed to a Cooperation Department official and demanded an inquiry against him.
The official was quoted in a local newspaper as stating that no Educated and Unemployed Youth, Labour or Contractor Cooperative Societies will be registered in Lachung without the permission of the Dzumsa.
The official had also stated that the Department of Cooperation has not received any letter from the Chief Minister’s Office regarding the recent controversy over the cooperative society in Lachung. Mr. Lachungpa claims that on 11 June, Principal Secretary to the CM had written to the Cooperation Secretary pointing out that “as per the Government approved norms the registered Cooperative Societies are permitted allotment of work below Rs.2 crore in the area”.
Mr. Lachungpa, while speaking to media-persons here yesterday, added that the concerned official of the Cooperation Department had registered the Lachung Dzumsa Educated Unemployed Co-operative Society on 26 March “violating his own position and undermining the laws that he is now stating and had also approved the bylaws of the Cooperative Society under his name, signature and official seal”.
“The statement is self-contradictory and clearly reflects his mala-fide intensions,” alleges Mr. Lachungpa. He stressed that the official should have brought to notice that certain laws and notifications related to the formation or registration of cooperative societies did not apply in the case of the Dzumsa system before registering the said cooperative society.
“The officer should be punished as per the government service rules for misleading the common people, not only the people from Lachung and Lachen, but he is equally responsible for creating confusion among the people of entire Sikkim. Irresponsible officers should be punished as per the laws and rules,” he said.
He went on to allege that the statement issued by the official was influenced by some members of the Lachung Dzumsa. He also clarified yesterday that the registration of the cooperative society has not been withdrawn as was being rumoured.