Sikkim shows the way

GANGTOK, Sept. 7: In a significant development, the Sikkim Assembly today passed the Sikkim Panchayat (Amendment) Bill envisaging 40 per cent seat reservation for women at the panchayat level."I think Sikkim is the first state in India to provide 40 per cent seat reservation to the women at panchayat level," chief minister Mr Pawan Chamling, said.He added that the reason behind providing 40 per cent seat reservation to the women is to give them equal right with no disparity. "The reason why Sikkim is not in the mainstream of the country is lack of women participation in elections. We want to uplift the women and make them self-reliant," the CM, added. He said that apart from panchayat level, 40 per cent seat reservation would be provided to the women at the district level also. Earlier, women used to get 33 per cent reservation in the state. In another major development, the chief minister today announced that the Limboo and Tamang communities will fight in the upcoming panchayat elections. He said that the state's per capita income has increased from Rs 9,000 to Rs 32,000. "We are targeting to meet the target of Rs 1 lakh per capita income," he said. Three other Bills ~ Registration of Companies (Amendment) Bill, Sikkim, Bill No 13 of 2007, Sikkim Municipalities (First Amendment) Bill, Sikkim, Bill No 15 of 2007, and Sikkim Prison Bill, Bill No 16 of 2007 ~ were also passed in the Assembly today