Sagar Chhetri
Ranipool, Dec 28
Chief Minister Pawan Chamling mentioned that there was no any injustice and suppression of the government employees in these 24 years of SDF government. He expressed that SDF government has always been working to give respect and protection of the government employees and working for their welfare since 24 years.
CM was speaking as the chief guest on the occasion of the 24th anniversary of the Government Formation of the Sikkim Democratic Front Government here at Saramsa Garden in East Sikkim on Friday.
In his address, he said “people of Sikkim gave him the responsibility of the CM on 12 December 1994 and since then we have been working tirelessly day and night in the interest of Sikkim and its people. We have fulfilled all hopes and aspiration of the people of Sikkim in these 24 years,” he expressed. He stated that Sikkim was an exemplary in different areas due to consistent works of SDF government.
He mentioned that soon after coming into the power the SDF government had worked hard for human resource development and then created immense opportunities for human resource of the State. He mentioned that the government has provided opportunities and reservation for its youths in the jobs. He thanked the bureaucrats of the State for their contributions and for properly implementing programme and policies of the government in these 24 years to make Sikkim the Best State. He further thanked former bureaucrats, political leaders, workers, farmers and every individual for taking Sikkim to the present position.
“There was no money to give salaries to the government employees and the State was economically bankrupt when I took the responsibility of the CM for the first time. Sikkim was the backward, poorest and landlocked State of the country 24 years back,” CM said. He added that there were lots of challenges when SDF government came into the power but the government worked hard consistently to take Sikkim to the present position.
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Sikkim twice and in both occasions I had placed important political issues of the State and also placed the demand for a special package to Sikkim during his first visit to Sikkim. But, the PM did not speak a single word on issues of the State,” he said. On the same, he asserted that such situation shows that it was not easy to deliver responsibilities of the CM.
Mr Chamling mentioned that there was no presence of Sikkim the country and in the Parliament. “In such difficult situation to take Sikkim make Sikkim an exemplary, progressive and vibrant State of the country by fulfilling all demands and aspirations of the people is not any easy task,” he expressed. He asserted that every Sikkimese needs to take ownership of Sikkim to take it forward.
He stated that the administration should be systematized and democratized and not personalised and the power should be decentralized. “This is the people’s government and bureaucrats should respect the mandate of the people by working loyal to the government to serve the people of Sikkim,” he said. He asserted upon effective mechanism, answerable bureaucracy and result-oriented works with effective delivery system.
CM added that the government has always been working to give respect and protection of the government employees and working for their welfare in these 24 years. He asserted that the government officials and employees should devote to their work from in office hours and should not indulge in any politics and religion and communal issue. He urged them to work in the interest of the people of Sikkim and serve the people of Sikkim irrespective of any community or section.
Speaking further to officials, the CM motivated them for the honesty and transparency in their work and to explore new idea and thoughts rather than the routine works. He stressed upon the cooperation and coordination in bureaucracy and the collective responsibility for the effective administration. He stated bureaucrat needs to be development manager and leader to give more contribution to Sikkim. “Bureaucrats are the bridge between the government and the people so they have important role in taking programme and policies of the government to the people for the desirable development in the State,” he expressed. He stressed that leadership and vision should be in the head of the department and there should be firm willpower for implementation. He added that due to firm willpower of SDF government Sikkim was on the present position.
While speaking on the series of welfare measures and works of SDF government for the government employees, the CM stated that the government employees should remember these good works of the government for them to be happy. He stated that due to good governance in the State there was no death of any police personnel on duty and they have been working freely in the peace and security.
“I have been doing politics to save Sikkim and to provide peace and security to the people of Sikkim,” he said.
Earlier, the program started with the welcome address by Chief Secretary AK Shrivastava. He highlighted various achievements of the state under the leadership of the Chief Minister like the airport connectivity through the Pakyong Greenfield Airport, Total Literate State Status, completion of the Holy Buddhist Trinity with the inauguration of the Chenrezing Shingkham at Pelling, amongst others. The Chief Secretary stated that the Future Policy Award to the HCM by the UN at Rome has added a dimension to the organic state status of Sikkim. In conclusion, the Chief Secretary highlighted that the Parliamentary Committee Of Commerce had expressed satisfaction at the progress rate of Sikkim and the policies adopted by the state which testifies that Sikkim is moving in the right direction.
Likewise, Additional Chief Secretary and Development Commissioner VB Pathak gave a brief report on the progress achieved by the state government during the last 24 years.
On the occasion, the CM released books published by the Information and Public Relations Department, SIKKIM- crossing a new horizon, Volume X, Mero Sapna Ko Sikkim , Volume X and the Coffee Table Book – Future Policy Award 2018. School Mothers who recently promoted to teachers from all over Sikkim also felicitated the Chief Minister in appreciation and gratitude. The programme concluded with vote of thanks proposed by Secretary, Rural Management & development Department, CS Rao.