The people of Sikkim are my masters, I work for them: CM
Gangtok, Jan 16 (IPR)
The Janta Mela or Gram Swaraj Abhiyan – Sikkim government’s outreach programme to distribute various largesses to the grassroot people kicked off from Gangtok, East Sikkim on Wednesday.
Chief Minister Pawan Chamling inaugurated the landmark at Paljor Stadium.
Beneficiaries under five Block Administrative Centres of East Sikkim namely Duga, Khamdong, Martam, Ranka and Nandok have been covered in today’s program.
Chief Minister Pawan Chamling handed over token grants/benefits in cash and kind to beneficiaries from different parts of the district.
The Chief Minister also launched the website of the East District Collectorate on the occasion. After distributing the token benefits, Chief Minister Pawan Chamling in his address stated that the Government in the last twenty four years has delivered on all the promises made, and has implemented all the stipulated schemes and programs.
The Chief Minister informed that forty different types of benefits are being distributed during this Janta Mela which is worth a whooping Rupees One Thousand Crores covering a total of 1,42,988 beneficiaries.
He directed all the officers of various departments to distribute all the benefits at the venue by the end of the day.
He further said that the Government has ensured that basic services like drinking water and electricity are provided free of cost or at highly subsidized rates. Likewise, rice is being supplied free of cost. All the basic minimum needs of the people of Sikkim have been met. There has been major improvement in the living standards of the Sikkimese people. He added that these benefits and grants are given to the people to make them self-reliant. He urged the people to use these incentives to augment their livelihood.
The Chief Minister elaborated on all the welfare schemes being implemented by the State Government. Speaking about Krishi Pension initiated by the Government, he said that it is a one-off initiative to honour the farmers who toil hard to provide food grains and vegetables for the family and society.
Journalists too have been honoured with a pension scheme because they are the fourth pillar in a democracy and have a huge role in society. He also spoke about free health schemes of the Government and elaborated on some of the facilities that that will be made available once the new hospital at Sochyagang is operational. He added that all types of medical diagnosis and treatment will be done in the hospital, and people will not have to travel outside the State.
The Chief Minister also highlighted the accomplishments of the State in the field of education. He said that the State has created a benchmark in this field by becoming the State with the highest literacy rate.
He said that in coming years, the roads of Sikkim will be upgraded and made into world class roads. He added that the Government will construct underground tunnel roads in the coming days. Likewise, the Government will create underground shopping centres in Gangtok as well as in districts and sub-towns. He informed that the preliminary work has already started.
He announced that all the people having their names in the voters list will be given employment in all private sectors operating from the State, on priority.
Speaking on Organic farming, the Chief Minister urged the people to take full benefit of the enabling environment created by the Government. He urged the people to increase their production capacity and become self-sufficient in food grain and vegetable production.
The Chief Minister elaborated on all the programs and policies implemented by the Government to ensure inclusive development in the State. He stressed on the initiatives taken to empower women and youth.
He said that the benefits of Janta Mela are also being given to people of the urban areas.
In conclusion, the Chief Minister announced that festival of Bumchu, Teez, Mangshirey Purnima of Bhujel community, and Sanderpida of Mukhia community will be designated Government holidays.
Some of the items distributed on the occasion were Electronic Rice Cookers, Water Filters, Compost Bins, Sound System, Samajik Seva Bhatta, Financial Assistance for purchase of religious robes, Oxen for Ploughing and Breeding, Milch Cow, financial incentive for setting up business Enterprises to disabled persons, Incentives under CM’s Start-up Scheme, House allotment certificates under CMRHM Phase II, GCI Sheets, House upgradation grant, LPG, Induction Stove, Kadhai & Frying Pan, buffet Sets, torch Light, Sewing Machine, Photocopier Machines, Water Filters, Tents/Shamiyana, Pressure Cookers, Desktop Computers, Laptops to students and Self Help Groups, Power Tiller, GENEP tank – 50,000 litres, Community Vermicompost, RCC Tank – 10,000 litres, Post Metric Scholarship schemes to students, CM’s Merit Scholarship Scheme, 1000 litres HDPE Tanks, Poly pipes, flexible/nylon pipes, and fabricated green houses. Likewise, buffaloes, poultry and piglets were also distributed under Animal Husbandry Department. Similarly, token incentives were also handed over to beneficiaries of ‘Proud Mother Scheme’, grant-in-aid to religious institutions under Ecclesiastical department, and incentives for community investment under State Rural Livelihood Mission.
A significant addition to this year’s programme is the distribution of allotment orders to eligible beneficiaries under ‘Land Bank Scheme’ to Sukumbasis (Landless). This welfare Scheme is a recent government decision and entails allotting available Government lands to Sukumbasis. Some of the beneficiaries were handed over token allotment orders by the Chief Minister today. The first phase will have more than 100 allotments being distributed during the Janta Mela program in all the districts, and subsequent cases will be covered in the coming days. The Land Revenue & Disaster Management Department is the nodal department entrusted with the implementation of this Scheme.
Token for Eight number of Garbage Collection and Disposal Vehicles were also distributed by the Chief Minister on the occasion.
Earlier, the programme began with welcome address by Secretary, Rural Management & Development Department, Shri C.S. Rao, who also gave a brief introduction about the objective behind organizing Janta Mela. He also informed about the benefits and grants to be distributed under various departments during the Janta Mela program in all the four districts, starting today.
The program had the presence of Cabinet Ministers, MLAs, Chief Secretary, Panchayat Adyakshas and Upadyakshas, all Heads of Departments, officers of all the participating departments, Panchayats and Urban Local Bodies, beneficiaries under various schemes and people from different parts of the district.
The Gram Swaraj Abhiyan will be held in Rorathang in East Sikkim on the 17th of January, followed by five more designated venues in the remaining three districts. The public outreach program will culminate at Gyalshing, West Sikkim, on 28th January 2019.
Some of the major benefits/grants/welfare schemes to be distributed during the Janta Mela Program in all the four districts are:
· Allotment orders for CMRHM houses – Phase II to 3000 beneficiaries
· GCI sheets 19200 beneficiaries
· House Upgradation Grant to 32000 beneficiaries
· LPG connection to 6400 beneficiaries
· Laptops to 5000 Self Help Groups
· Allotment orders for ‘Land Bank Scheme’ to 1475 beneficiaries