SIKKIM: Nandok to be organic zone to grow vegs & fruits: CM




Gangtok: Nandok will be declared an organic zone to grow vegetables and fruits as Sikkim will be the first organic state in the country by 2015. This was said by Chief Minister Dr. Pawan Chamling Wednesday, September 1. He was speaking as chief guest at a Syari Constituency level meeting of Sikkim Democratic Front held at Nandok Secondary School ground. He mentioned
that organic certification process is underway.


Chief Minister said, at present in 18000 hectare land organic vegetables are being grown and the Government plan is to add 18000 hectare land every year to grow organic vegetables. It is also planned that 1000 people will be trained in one year and they will teach farmers about the importanance of organic vegetables, he said.



He said there are only two classes at present in Sikkim – one of farmers and the other of Government job holders – and the farmers are slighted as a lower class. “We want to upgrade farmers and make them equal to others and thereby Sikkim will become classless by 2013”, he said.

Chief Minister mentioned that there are some reactionaries those who do not want Sikkim to become an organic state and creating obstacles. “Those people are anti-Sikkim and anti-people who create obstacle to development of the state”, he said. He appealed people not to believe such type of people who do not want development of the state.



Mentioning some unemployed in the state, he said Government has created many opportunity but they fail to use it. “We have to change our work culture”, he added.



Chief Minister assured to fulfill all demands the Syari constituency and urged for people’s initiative in the matter. He announced Rs 2 lakh for construction of a temple after the land is procured and registered.



Mr. KT Gyaltsen, Area MLA and Assembly Speaker, appealed to all teachers to reach school in time and wanted concerned officer village areas. “Everybody has a right in democracy but they have to know their responsibility also”, he said. He placed 12 demands of the Constituency to the Chief Minister.



On the occasion 23 Syari constituency also felicitated Chief Minister Dr. Chamling “for his dedication to the people and the state”. Chief Minsiter felicitated former Panchayat Arjun Chettri and Bir Bahadur Chettri’s families who expired few months back in an accident.



MLA Menlom Lepcha, Commerce and Industries Minister Neeru Sewa, Tourism Minister Bhim Dhungel, Rural Management and Development Minister CB Karki attended the programme, among others.



[FROM SIKKIM REPORTER / EDITED BY ASHOK CHATTERJEE]