Sikkim Democratic Front observes Garibee Unmulan Diwas

(photo courtsey:SikkimReporter)
Gangtok,September23: “People think that poverty means economic poverty but our aim is to eradicate all types of poverties like mental poverty, economic poverty and literary poverty which are all interrelated. Until a person is relieved from captivity of mental poverty, it will not possible for him to achieve prosperity. A mentally rich person can be rich in all aspects”.
This is said by Sikkim Democratic Front President and Chief Minister Dr. Pawan Chamling on Tuesday, September 22.
SDF observed the day at party headquarters as “Garibee Unmulan Diwas” (poverty eradication day) and also birthday of the party leader Dr. Chamling. On behalf of SDF, MLA and Chief Whip of the party, Mr. Ugen Gyatso, felicitated Chief Minister for the four India Today Group Awards he received for Sikkim recently. West Pendam Vikash Paramarsh Samiti also congratulated CM and presented him a memento. A book, “Spiritual Manifestation of Guru Padmasambhava”, written by Mr. D.T. Zimba of Meghalaya, was released by CM. Two minutes silence was observed for the death of party worker Bhim Rai.
Speaking as Chief Guest at the largely attended meeting Chief Minister said, “Sikkim would have remained in the past tradition if the revolt against the prevailing system did not take place. We have fought a battle against that system in which people were suppressed. Still we are fighting our battle against ignorance and poverty”.
He urged people to change mindset and shun poor thinking. He said, “though we have achieved economic strength up to a level, still we are lacking in mental strength”, adding, “weakness of a common man is his illiteracy”. Even educated youths are being deceived by some political opportunists and there is no end of baseless blames, he noted.
He sought every Minister’s and MLA’s contribution to run the government smoothly. He said, “A government is a group of representatives having a common goal. Every representative has a role to make the masses aware about every developmental work of the government. We are working with a vision but we too have some limitations. Programme of a government depends upon its vision. Every member of a government should bear responsibility of good governance”.
Chief Minister further said “My vision is to build a rich and prosperous Sikkim. All the developmental work now underway will be completed within 10-12 years. Sikkim has got a stature by receiving various awards at national level”. He mentioned, over 80,000 rural people of Sikkim have benefited in the past 15 years with various housing schemes ranging in amount from Rs.20,000 to Rs.5 lakhs. He urged all Ministers, MLAs, Chairpersons and party workers to come forward with development plans. Beautification work at every entry point of Sikkim is planned, he informed.
He said, “Let us take the pledge that SDF is not only a political party but an institution in itself”. Senior party leader Mr. D.D.Bhutia also addressed the gathering and offered every type of help to the newly elected representatives. “We have gone through a long struggle”, he said.