13th day of Sikkim Chief Minister's village to village tour

Tashiding,11th June: (IPR) The second day of West District and the 13th day of village to village tour of the Chief Minister started with the offering of prayers at a Mandir at Tashiding followed by laying of foundation stone of Block Administrative Centre, Chongrang and Kishan Bazar at Chongrang. The BAC so established will cater the need of the people of six Gram Panchayat Units viz. Arithang Chongrang, Tashiding, Gerethang, Karji Mangnam, Dhupidara Narkhola and Kongri Labdang. The entire complex is being constructed at the estimated cost of 7.94 crore. The school committee of Tashiding Sr. Secondary School also felicitated the Chief Minister on the occasion.

Addressing the public gathering at various places the Chief Minister talking about the policy of power decentralization and devolution to the people said that though the government has taken various steps to decentralize power to the grass root level but the people are not able to take the benefit of it. The people and the panchayat should be empowered to take the utmost benefit from it, he said. Talking about the education in the state the Chief Minister said that collective responsibility has to be taken to improve the education system in the state. Education family consists of students, teachers, parents, officers in the department, businessmen, politicians and the civil society; he said and added that unless all the stake holders taken their responsibility honestly education system in the state shall not improve. The Chief Minister also expressed his dissatisfaction over the 25 model houses constructed at Middle Chongrang out of which only three are being utilized and the rest twenty two houses are still left unutilized. Terming these houses as “White Elephants”, he directed the concerned department to make use of these houses for the benefit of the local people immediately.

The Chief Minister directed the officer’s accompanying him to take note of the demands of the people, see the feasibility of the demands, do the survey works of the projects demanded, acquire land if required, prepare the DPR of the projects and submit it to the government. The Chief Minister also cautioned the subject holder contractors not to sublet the contractual works to the outsiders.
The Chief Minister talking about the various demands of the public said that the government has decided to construct the ropeway at Phamrong Falls to promote the tourism potentiality of the area. Referring to the demands he announced to open a degree college at Gyalshing and directed the concerned department to immediately start the college from a rented house from the month of June itself. He also said that the demands of the people submitted to the government shall be sanctioned on the basis of the need of the people but not on the interest of the contractors. The Chief Minister also declared that the salary of the ASHA and ICDS workers shall be hiked in the next three years.

At Pelling ground the Chief Minister interacted with the students of Pelling Sr. Sec. School. The students of the school during the interaction appraised the Chief Minister about the poor condition of the hostel facilities, laboratory equipments and infrastructure in the school. They also informed him about the non availability of teachers of various subjects. The Chief Minister in turn assured the students that in tune with the policy of the state government all the facilities required by the students for education purpose will be fulfilled and directed the department officials to take note of the problems faced by the students and take corrective measures immediately.

During the day long tour the Chief Minister addressed the people of Gerethang, Arithang, Chongang, Tingting, Mangsabong, Thingling, Tathang, Melli, Khechupuri, Rimbi, Darap, Pelling and adjoining areas