Tough ask for CM minus team- Dr. Chamling on Mission US without logistical support New Delhi, Sept. 21: The Sikkim government is nervous about the tourism promotion-cum-business trip to the United States, apparently with good reason.
Caught between three events — IncredibleIndia@60, a tourism ministry extravaganza in New York from September 23 to 26, the Northeast India Investment Conference in New York on September 25 and an investment conference in Bangkok from October 1 — officials are said to be confused. The two latter events have been inserted into the itinerary by the DoNER ministry.
To begin with, Delhi has denied chief minister trusted lietenants ministers —permission to accompany him on the four-day trip to New York from September 23 to 26.Moreover, officials fear that the tourism stall hired by the state in the US could embarrass Sikkim. Sources said the government has paid the Indian Tourism Development Corporation hiring charges for the stall, but is now wondering who will man it.
Promotional material, like Khadas and Posters, is being shipped to New York, but there is no one to even unpack the materials or erect the stall.
Sources said Sikkim had applied for political clearance of more people, of many were rejected by the DoNER ministry. When clearance came from the ministry of external affairs, only limited names were approved such as Dr. Chamling , his principal secretary Basnett and representative of Tourism department - sources added.
Some are trying to draw consolation from the fact that states like Tamil Nadu had applied for political clearance of 45 people, but got the green signal for only three. Assam applied for 12 but got clearance of 3.
As for the tourism stall, officials are trying to outsource work in the host country through the Indian embassy, but expect the going to be tough.
Indian embassy officials are going to be extremely hardpressed, as they will have to take care of more than 500 delegates from India. They will also be busy with the UN General Assembly that coincides with the programme.
The tourism ministry extravaganza in the US has Assam, Kerala, Karnataka, Goa and Madhya Pradesh as major players. Sikkim dancers have already left for New York to participate in the programme.
“We wonder why the DoNER ministry organised this investment event when the programme is already packed. These investment summits should not be clubbed like this,” rued an official.
DoNER minister Mani Shankar Aiyar, however, feels otherwise.
After the US trip, the Northeast delegates will head straight for Bangkok to attend another business summit.
Among those who will try to make a mark in New York and Bangkok will be Sikkim chief minister Dr.Pawan Chamling.
