Sr Citizen and Rtd Employees Org members meet CM

GANGTOK, 15 Feb: The executive committees of Senior Citizen Organization and Retired Employees Welfare Organization called on the Chief Minister, Pawan Chamling at Samman Bhawan on Tuesday evening. The senior citizen organization was led by its president, former Chief Secretary, KC Pradhan while the retired employees welfare organization was led by its president, DT Bhutia.
An SDF press release issued by publicity secretary, Amber Rai, informs that during the discussion on different issues both the organizations congratulated the CM on maintaining a democratic environment in the state. Presidents of both the organizations also informed about the objectives and demands of their respective organizations.
In response, the CM assured both the organizations to fulfill their demands at the earliest. He also mentioned that retired employees and senior citizens are in an important stage of their life and should work actively in handing over their experiences and knowledge to the society, the release mentions.
He also urged them to take on leadership roles which would enable the society to benefit from their knowledge and experience. The CM further urged the senior citizens to express their opinions on the government’s actions, point out mistakes and also appreciate the good work of the government, the release further adds.

Plan towards making State self-reliant advises CM

GANGTOK, 14 Feb: A delegation comprising of former Chief Minister of Sikkim, BB Gooroong, advisors, chairpersons of various government institutions and members of the State Planning Commission met the Chief Minister Pawan Chamling at his official residence at Mintokgang on 13 February.
An SDF release informs that the representatives thanked the SDF party and its leader, Pawan Chamling for two decades of strong governance. Development and rebuilding of the state were also discussed in the meeting.
The representatives expressed that the development in the border state of Sikkim has brought about a positive change and set an example of national integration in the country, the release informs.
While, the CM suggested that the State Planning Commission should develop schemes towards making the state self-reliant and added that everyone should work together towards making this possible. He further expressed concern over the lack of moral responsibility amongst the general public towards the society, state and nation, the release states.
Speaking on the topic of agriculture in the state, the CM stressed on the need for BSc and MSc students of agriculture along with the general mass to work towards spreading technological knowledge in the villages in order to strengthen human resources. The CM further emphasized on the need for all to collectively participate for the development of the state, the release adds.

SSA group crowds Mintokgang gate seeking collective meeting with CM to pursue service extension demand

AMEET OBEROI
GANGTOK, 23 Jan: Around 100 teaching and non-teaching staff employed on contract basis under the Sarva Siksha Abhiyan [SSA] by the Human Resource Development Department [HRDD] gathered at the gates of the Chief Minister’s official residence, Mintokgang, today demanding to meet him in person in pursuance of their demand seeking extension of their tenure. They are being supported by 176 Computer Teachers, who it is reported, had been assured by the Chief Minister of regular jobs, which have still not materialized and who have not received salaries for the last three months. Collectively, the group have formed an association by the name of “All Sikkim Departmental Adhoc Staff Group” [ASDASG] comprising of teaching and non-teaching staff.
“We have been trying to meet the Chief Minister for the past many days and have tried to get an appointment 2-3 times already, but have always been turned back by the PRO stating that we cannot get an appointment with the CM regarding this issue,” claimed Sonam G Sherpa [president, All Sikkim Departmental Adhoc Staff Group], while speaking to media-persons here today.
Interestingly, Mr. Sherpa also informed that the Chief Minister’s Office had conveyed word to them today to select a 5-member delegation to meet with the CM and discuss their demands. The ASDASG however decided not to send a small delegation and remained steadfast in their demand to meet him as a group, fearing that a smaller representation might feel intimidated and not pursue their demands as effectively.
At the crux of the matter is their demand for extension of their services.
“We were recruited last year and had put up the file regarding the extension of our tenure in November, 2011, and even the HRD Minister had approved the file for sanction. But when the file came to the officer’s level, it went missing and we have not been able to trace it,” he said. “It looks like that the departmental officials are trying to suppress the file and now we all have been running after the file to find its location,” he said.
“Our’s is a contractual job and we get consolidated pay and when we are asked to join we are given ‘service books’, wherein it reads that we are to have this job until the SSA projects running under the State government are not over, but here we are not even being given extension of our services even though the SSA continues,” argued Jigmee Bhutia, an ASDASG member.
He further informed that as they were drawing consolidated pay, they received only 22 days salary for December, 2011 instead of a complete month. “We were told that as we had worked for just the 22 working days we were being paid that amount,” he added.
Speaking on the agenda, the ASDASG president informed that the existing employees [under SSA] should continue on their jobs. Their group, he added, was “totally“ against NCTE criteria based norms and is also demanding that the previous staff should be extended the same privileges as the SSA regulars.
“There should be no discrimination from any department or the government policy, but should get equal justification before the eyes of law; we also want that there should be a systematic process for everyone in recruitment or extension; clear notification and circular should be forwarded by the department in any matter; we should be regularized under the manifesto of our state government as this list comes under the concurrent bill which has the same priority as the central government,” he added.
Mr. Sherpa insists that their group has no political affiliations and that they were taking the present stand for job security. He however added, “If our department cannot fulfill our demands, we will be compelled to become a politicised body”.
On the plan of action if a meeting with the Chief Minister as demanded by them does not materialize, he informed that the next course of action would be to go on a hunger strike, then march out with black flags and if even this approach fails, then turn completely political by fielding independent candidates for the upcoming panchayat elections and the assembly polls in 2014.
Meanwhile, the group sat in a meeting later in the day to decide future action. This meeting, the group’s president informs, resolved to try and meet the Chief Minister once again on Tuesday and should even this attempt end without results, go ahead with a dharna.
The president also alleged harassment by the PRO to the CM and the Superintendent of Police [East] in their bid to seek an appointment with the CM today.