South Sikkim Gram Sabha approves schemes and demands

Namchi,October3 : Marking the ‘Gram Sabha Year 2009- 2010’, 50th year of Panchayati Raj in India, a Gram Sabha was held on Friday, October 2, here at Maniram Bhanzyang Panchayat Bhawan for the public of 27- Maniram- Singithang Gram Panchayat Unit (GPU) in South Sikkim. The Sabha was presided by the Panchayat President of the GPU Topda Bhutia and attended by the officials from different departments and a good number of villagers. The meeting discussed the various schemes and the demands which the Sabha passed with a majority approval.
Addressing the meeting the Panchayat President Mr. Bhutia informed that the Panchayat of the GPU has decided to provide an Identity Card with the limited validity period to the mini businesspersons who visit the village for business purpose from outside the state. This arrangement, according to him, was done for the safety of the area people.
He said that it has been found in past that the traders from outside the state who often visited the remote areas for business have misbehaved with the innocent people of such remote places, especially with the ladies. “Following such complaints we have decided to provide identity cards to each and every trader, laborer and carpenter from outside the state entering the GPU”, he said.
Mr. Bhutia urged the people of the GPU to ask such persons for the I-card from the Panchayat, for which such traders and laborers will have to register them with the office of Panchayat at Panchayat Bhawan, he added. He further said that now the panchayat will take care of the local people. The I-card holders will also be provided with security from some anti social elements during their stay in the GPU, he said.
He mentioned that to look after the different developmental sections, the panchayat has formed a Standing Committee which will look after the various maters like water Supply, electricity, complaints and grievances, education, health and environment conservation. The meeting was also addressed by Beena Gajmer Vice President, Ramesh Rai, Panchayat Secretary and members Dinesh Pradhan, Hem Kumari Manger, Doma Tamang, Sita Kumari Rai and Ganga Psd. Gajmer who placed the demands of the people of their respective wards. Earlier the meeting was also addressed by the DDO, South LP Chettri and CDPO Namchi who apprised the people of schemes of their respective departments.