GANGTOK, Aug 14: The state government has once again laid greater emphasis on education and tourism. According to official reports, the proposal for the printing of a departmental textbook for the academic session 2007-2008 was put forward at a recent cabinet meeting of the state government here. The textbooks are to be provided free of cost to students of pre-primary to Class V and at a 50 per cent subsidy to students of Class VI to Class XII. The total estimated cost is Rs over Rs 1 crore. Another grant-in-aid amounting to Rs 76.5 lakhs will also be made to non-government schools. At the meeting, officials also discussed means to improve tourism in the state.A proposal for the development of a Community Park at Bhojey and a Water Garden at Hee-Pul under Integrated Development of Tourism in West Sikkim was put forward. The total cost of the project is estimated at over Rs 4 crore. As per the report, a proposal for the transfer of funds amounting to Rs 2.63 crores from the department of social justice empowerment and welfare to the rural management and development department was also considered at the meeting. The Cabinet also chalked out strategy for introduction of an airport at Pakyong.
