Sikkim celebrates I-Day with recognition of meritorious service and preparation for future plans

GANGTOK, 16 Aug: The 66th Independence Day was celebrated with much grandeur here at the Paljor Stadium on 15 August. Present was the Chief Minister, Pawan Chamling along with his cabinet colleagues, senior bureaucrats and local gentry.
The Police Medal and State Award for Meritorious Service were conferred to 12 persons on the occasion. The Chief Minister also released a series of eight books and launched the website of the Animal Husbandry, Livestock, Fisheries and Veterinary Services Department.
Indira Kumar Rai [Fire Service Officer, Namchi] and SD Lepcha [Fire Officer, Singtam] received the Police Medal, while Shyam Kumar Pradhan [Special Secretary, Home Department]; Purna Prasad Sharma [Senior Accounts Officer, Land Revenue & Disaster Management Department]; Binod Kumar Gurung [Deputy Registrar, Cooperation Department]; Sukpal Subba [Assistant Sub Inspector, SAP Pangthang]; Kalim Uddin [ASI (Mechanical Section), Sikkim Reserve Lines]; Lhamu Tshering Bhutia [Accountant, Ecclesiastical Affairs Department]; Sanjiv Kumar Tamang [Field Assistant, Animal Husbandry, Livestock, Fisheries and Veterinary Services Department]; Madan Kumar Cintury [Driver, Raj Bhawan]; Gopal Pradhan [Peon, Office of the Chief Secretary, Home Department] and Nem Bahadur Rai [Peon, Rural Management & Development Department] were conferred the State Award for Meritorious Service.
Mass drill and various cultural programmes by school children were also performed during the occasion.
March-past was performed by ITBP, SSB, SAP, IRBn, Sikkim Police [male and female], Home Guards, NCC platoons from various schools, Scouts and Guides, Army Pipe band and Sikkim Police Brass and Pipe band. The best overall platoon in Forces was won by ITBP while PNGSS school won the best platoon among NCC. The consolation prize went to Sikkim Police band.
Earlier, the Chief Minister read out the Independence Day address to the gathering.
Greeting the people on the occasion, the CM highlighted that the struggle of the Freedom Fighters which culminated in Freedom had shouldered citizens of Free India with “immense responsibility to rule onto ourselves and to preside over the destiny of the new Nation”.
“Let us rededicate ourselves to carry forward the dreams and aspiration of thousands of freedom fighters to their logical conclusion so that freedom we gained more than sixty years ago is fully justified and reflected in the life of our countrymen to live full and contented life every day and every minute,” he said.
Updating the people of Sikkim on the achievements of his Government in the past 18 years, the CM highlighted that Sikkim has “made an impressive headway in every other sector and in all spheres of development and ahead of many other States in India”.
Governance, he said, has consciously adopted “scientific approach” to engage both short-term and long-term development strategies to bring about comprehensive development of the State. “This we have been able to do through fruitful engagement with central leadership as per spirit as enshrined under Article 371F of the Indian Constitution and secondly through judicious harnessing of our natural resources to consolidate our internal revenue base,” he added.
On the new projects on the anvil, the CM informed that the Multi Specialty Hospital being developed in Gangtok will provide highly specialized medical treatment to the people within the state and that the ongoing construction will be completed by 2013. The ambitious Buddha Park project at Ravangla, he informed, will be inaugurated within the current financial year even as the first phase of work for construction of the even more ambitious Sky-walk at Bhaleydhunga has been started.
Reiterating the State Government’s rural focus, the CM shared that the commitment to linking remote parts of the State with all-weather roads has led to the total road length of Sikkim increasing from 1,800 km in 1994 to 3,700 km now. “Our next effort will be upgradation and extension of existing roads to make them quality roads,” he added.
He also made mention of the Panchayat elections scheduled for later this year and expressed confidence that people of Sikkim, “like in the past will participate in this great democratic tradition to elect our grassroot functionaries”.
“We rightfully claim that the installation of SDF Government facilitated socio-cultural reawakening among our simple citizens. The customs, traditions and religious belief belonging to cross-sections of people have been protected and promoted through regular state patronage. The weaker and the disadvantaged section of people are being prioritised through different grants for their socio-economic upliftment,” he highlighted.
On the government’s plans for revenue generation for continued infrastructure development, the CM admitted that more than 65% of the State’s central plan allocation goes into salary payments of the over 50,000 government employees [including Muster Roll, Work-charged and adhoc employees], leaving the State exchequer with limited resources to invest in other development priorities.  Given this reality, the government has resolved to harness the State’s natural and cultural assets and identified hydropower generation, service industries, hospitality industries, small scale industrial units, on-line gaming as priorities for generation of additional employment and leverage local economy.
[refer NOW! issue dated 15 August 2012 for details of announcements made]

South district meeting discusses Independence Day celebration

NAMCHI, 27 July [IPR]: A district level meeting regarding the celebration of 66th Independence Day was organized by the South District Administration at the conference hall of DAC today. The meeting was attended by Chairmen Tea Board and Welfare Board, HODs, Line Department officials, Adhyaksha SDZP, Vice Chairman Namchi Municipal Council (NMC), members of NGOs, NMC, and Panchayats.
At the outset, it was decided that this year the Independence Day would be celebrated in the new venue that is Singhithang playground since Bhaichung Stadium is under construction. Secondly the work allocations for different line departments of the organizing committee and matters like sanitation, restrooms, changing rooms for the participants, water supply, snack distribution, awards, sitting arrangement, cultural programme, refreshments for the guests, selection committee for competitive categories, sponsorship for other categories etc were discussed at length in the meeting.
It was informed in the meeting that the Independence Day Football Tournament (IDFT) would kick off from 05 August at Singhithang playground. SDM Hqr Purna Yonzon read out the different work allocations of the line departments and organizations.
Area MLA, Binod Rai speaking as the chief guest informed that the up-gradation works at the new celebration venue like construction of permanent pavilion and additional public gallery were underway. Mr Rai added that the line departments and the contractors are attempting to complete the necessary up-gradation works before the commencement of the celebration day.
He asked the engineering departments and concerned line departments to inspect the necessary arrangements at the venue. The area MLA emphasized that the Chief Minister’s Gold Cup Football Tournament which is a prestigious event in the South District headquarters should be given consistency as this tournament has already been missed last year due to the earthquake.
In this context, he informed that since Bhaichung Stadium is under renovation, the new alternative venue for the CM’s Gold Cup tentatively would be Jorethang playground. He also mentioned that the objective of organizing football tournaments in the district is to provide exposure and platform to the rural sportsmen to hone their football skills and participate not only in their state but at national and international levels as well.
Further adding he said that the Sports Youth hostel of Namchi has produced many talented players who have moved on to join prominent National Football Clubs in the country.
SP South, Manoj Tewari stressed on the fact that not everyone is allowed to hoist the National Flag on their vehicles on Independence Day and it would be considered as violation of law if anyone is found doing so except for the vehicles of cabinet rank and above officers he informed. He also emphasized that the use of National Flags made of plastic is prohibited and only flags made of Khadi is actually allowed. He also asked the public to honor the National Flag and not throw them around.
DC South, AK Singh stressed on the appropriate presentation of Independence Day celebration as he said that this is the day of national pride and its presentation sends out a message of national integrity. In this regard, he also discouraged participants from performing western songs which he said is opposed to the theme and encouraged to present only traditional cultural songs and dances. He asked the organizing committee to avoid causing inconveniences to the participants especially the school children.
He also suggested forming a team of volunteers to help the march past contingents for smooth coordination of the programme. The DC said that last hour entry in the competitive categories should not be entertained to avoid last minute hassles for which he asked the organizing committee to coordinate on this matter with the participating groups. He further called for active participation and cooperation of all the members to make this event a successful one.
It was informed in the meet that the next review meeting would be held on 05 August at Singhithang Playground prior to the commencement of IDFT and all the members of the organizing committee were asked to positively attend the meeting.

CM flags social challenges and commitment to the young as priority issues

I-DAY CELEBRATIONS IN GANGTOK 
CM ANNOUNCES SCIENCE AND COMMERCE STREAMS FOR ALL SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOLS, Rs 500 NUTRITIONAL ALLOWANCE FOR NEW-BORNS FOR FIRST SIX YEARS

AMEET OBEROI
GANGTOK, 16 Aug: “We have to devise some stringent legislation to save our society from possible disintegration that is why we have contemplated imposition of rigorous penalty, including imprisonment and fines for anyone serving liquor to children and minors in hotels and restaurants and also for drug peddlers,” said Chief Minister Pawan Chamling in his address on the occasion of 65th Independence Day celebration held here at Paljor Stadium yesterday.

“Interest of Sikkimese people uppermost in my mind”

65TH INDEPENDENCE DAY MESSAGE OF THE CHIEF MINISTER

Respected fellow citizens of the State and the Country
On the auspicious occasion of the 65th Independence Day of the nation, I convey my good wishes and felicitation to my beloved people of Sikkim and to the rest of my countrymen. Year after year, we can see India facing some formidable challenges while promoting the interest of the Nation. Security and sovereignty of the nation is as usual exposed to the nefarious design of anti-national elements. We are provoked regularly through terrorist attack, cross border skirmishes and creating internal feuds by various elements. However, the people of the Country have always faced these challenges with grit determination.