CM AT SIKKIM PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING

GANGTOK, July 14: With a view to make Sikkim self-sufficient, Chief Minister Pawan Chamling today directed the State Planning Commission to submit a concrete proposal to the State government for fulfilling the manpower and food items demands from the State itself.
“The State Planning Commission should study the demand quantities of meat, diary and vegetable products of Sikkim and then submit a proposal to the State Government suggesting ways as to how Sikkim can fulfill these demands. The commission should also suggest measures as to how the manpower demand in the State can be fulfilled by our local people which will lead to balanced development in the State”, said the Chief Minister during a meeting of the 4th State Planning Commission of Sikkim held at the Chintan Bhavan here today.
Mr. Chamling is also the chairperson of the State Planning Commission.
The Chief Minister said that the power sector in Sikkim alone requires 20,000 skilled persons, tourism sector requires 50,000 skilled persons and pharma companies in the State require 10,000 skilled persons.
“The commission should think on these lines and give a concrete proposal to the government so that manpower demand is fulfilled from Sikkim itself”, said Mr. Chamling.
The Chief Minister also directed the commission to suggest measures to the State government for selection of priority sectors which requires loans. The commission must suggest the government to take only those projects where revenue can be generated for repayment of loans, he said. We must not take those projects where loans cannot be repaid, he asserted.
The Chief Minister said that any concrete proposal from the departments with provisions for revenue generation and repayment of loans will be immediately sanctioned by the State government.
“The commission must also work as to how to remove the consumerism syndrome of the Sikkimese people”, said Mr. Chamling while terming the commission as a ‘think tank’ for the development of Sikkim.
The Chief Minister further said that the executive wing of the government should mould their mindset and understand the changing demands of the people of the 21st century. People of today want quality services, he said. With passage of time, the standard of living of people improves and to fulfill their demands is the responsibility of the government and bureaucracy, he said.
Earlier SM Limboo, the deputy chairman of the State Planning Commission highlighted the need for better coordination among the departments for effective implementation of people-centre schemes of the State government.
“We have a huge responsibility and the executive wing must execute the policies made by the policy makers elected by the people. The planned projects must reach the villages”, said Mr. Limboo in his address.
Informing that fund allocations have been tightened up by the Centre in the 11th Five Year Plan for Sikkim, Mr. Limboo suggested setting up mini-hydel power projects for villages so that the electricity requirement of the villages are met while the power generated from the mega power projects of Sikkim can be sold outside generating more revenue for the State.
The other members of the State Planning Commission are Sonam Tshering Bhutia, R Ongmu, Tashi Wangdi, Manita Pradhan, Kalawati Subba and Lhakila Tongden also addressed the meeting.
Earlier, the Development Commissioner Karma Gyasto who is also the member secretary of the State Planning Commission presented the welcome address. Emphasis is on the outcome than outlay as per the thrust on resulted oriented policies of the Chief Minister, he said.