Sikkim team to Switzerland on exposure visit

source:THE ASSAM TRIBUNE

GANGTOK, March 3: A 20-member delegation led by Sikkim Minister CB Karki has left for Switzerland on a study-cum-exposure trip.

The team, currently on a six day trip will visit University of Fribourg to make an indepth study of fiscal decentralisation and strengthening of instituitional and financial mechanisms for local self governance , i.e. Panchayati Raj Institutions. Switzerland is well known for its federal political system with financial devolution and administrative decentralisation for different tiers of the government.

The delegation attended lectures at University of Fribourg, organized by Professor Bernard Dafflon, Professor of Economics on Fiscal Federalism, Revenue Generation from user charges for Panchayats and Distribution of Drinking Water.

On March 3, the delegation will visit Le Mouret Municipal Council (Commune) for a first hand exposure to local industrial activities, institutional mechanism, municipal administration, land zoning and planning. On March 4, the delegation will visit Charmey Commune to study the tourism sector and its impacts on the economy and the social welfare policy for elderly dependent people.

On the same day, a visit to a Mini Thermal Plant will also be undertaken. The delegation would make a site visit to get a first hand exposure on treatment of household garbage, solid waste management and school mid-day meal scheme.

The tour is a part of the ongoing Indo-Swiss Project Sikkim (ISPS) to strengthen the decentralisation and devolution of power to Panchayats through capacity building, and is a step towards realising the vision of the Chief Minister to develop the villages in Sikkim along the line of rural areas of Switzerland.