Village Development Action Plan – Chief Minister’s Speech


IPR-SKM

Speech delivered by Hon’ble Chief Minister, Shri Pawan Chamling
at Gangtok on 14 sept 2010

Respected Professor Bernard Dafflon from the University of Fribourg in Switzerland, Hon’ble Speaker, Sikkim Legislative Assembly, my cabinet colleagues and MLAs, Member of Parliament, Deputy Chairman State Planning Commission, Zilla Adhayakshas and Up-Adhayakshas, Mayor and Deputy Mayor, Chairman and Vice Chairman, Chief Secretary, Additional Chief Secretary, Secretaries and senior officials of the State Government, Presidents of the Gram Panchayat Units, Pachayat Members, Councilors from across the State, friends from media, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen.

At the outset, I share extreme happiness with all of you to once again welcome Professor Bernard Dafflon to Sikkim and thank him for his guiding principles for Rural Renaissance based on our long-term goal of sustainable and scientific development of rural Sikkim. He is our dear friend, philosopher and partner in our movement for rural upliftment. Gandhiji prescribed going to the villages to see the ‘real’ India. In the same way, we have sought to re-organize, re-furbish, further enrich and empower that ‘real’ Sikkim into a socially, culturally and economically sustainable compact State. In this great mission of ours, Prof. Dafflon is our catalyst and the harbinger to herald a new beginning into rural life and the grass root experience.

Essentially, the State entered into the planning process only towards late 1970s and as a fledgling democratic State the concept of long-term planning into strategic development was not considered very vital and the subsequent governments failed to judge its seriousness that it required to be addressed. However, when the Sikkim Democratic Front government was mandated to form government in December 1994, we quickly settled to do a re-look into the must-do imperatives both in policy framing and planning procedure.

For obvious reasons, our Government earmarked seventy percent of plan allocation for village development which surprised many in those days who were only used to regimented thought and action and not exposed to free thinking atmosphere. After sixteen years, we have successfully addressed the basic necessities of life by granting full access to social security, education, health, democratic rights, decent living, food and shelter.

We have realized that the best way to achieve comprehensive development in the State is to increasingly decentralize and devolve the functioning of the Government to the people at the grassroot level. The idea is to give a sense of ownership, introduce transparency and make the governance accountable. Today, Sikkim is in the forefront of decentralization and devolution in the country. As per the spirit of 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, our grass root functionaries are fully institutionalized contributing towards the development of the society and the State.

The State Government also held elections to the urban local bodies in accordance with the 74th Constitutional Amendment Act. This process brought about due integration of local urban administration under the ambit of constitutional requirement as required under the democratic set up. That means now we also have a full set of people to work towards the welfare of the community at large as well as in improving the overall civic environment with assured basic amenities to the people. In fact, we have also effectively introduced fiscal devolution both to the rural and urban bodies with strings of other fund allocation including the provision for discretionary fund.

With the creation of the Block Administrative Centres, the process of decentralized district planning for every micro unit of administration within the State has been brought into operation. The bottoms-up approach to the planning process involving District level officials and elected representatives of all Gram Panchayats and Zilla Panchayats has now become a reality. A new Block Administrative Centre shall be established at Machong Parakha where BDO and other functionaries have been already posted. New BACs in Chumbung-Chakung and Chongrang in West Sikkim, Nandu Gaon Chisopani in South and Martam in East Sikkim shall be established and we are opening State Bank of Sikkim branch office at all the BACs across the State. Likewise, Community Centres, Play Ground and Knowledge Centre shall be developed in each of these centres.

A comprehensive and holistic planning and budgeting framework in the form of “Village Development Action Plan” prepared by Professor Bernard Dafflon would be used as road map for scientific development of villages under the eco-city State concept and will further strengthen our decentralization and empowerment mission. Following these guidelines, a pilot Village Development Action Plan for Aritar Gram Panchayat Unit in East District has also been prepared. This is a diagnostic study which attacks at the very heart of poverty and tries to find out the root cause and prescribe a solution as well. The State Government specifically chose Switzerland to frame the Model considering the striking similarity between the two countries particularly in their geographical terrain, very strong belief in decentralization and peaceful and hospitable nature of the people.

What inspired us to prepare this indepth and comprehensive Action Plan has been our long-drawn experience to address issue of equitable growth and distribution of development reach to both urban and rural Sikkim and ensure balanced development of the State. This will, as a result, lead to creation of equal opportunity and development avenues for people living in both urban and rural areas. As part of overall outcome and based on the Action Plan, we will be able to create long-term, national and world class opportunities and public facilities at the grass root level at par with Gangtok town or other modernized towns. This will further strengthen our commitment to sustainable environment management and promotion of culture and tradition at equal pace and dimension. Therefore, Village Development Action Plan is the end result of our cohesive, logical and integrated visionary program. I am confident that his Action Plan will completely transform Sikkim into the eco-city State and emerge as a model for the entire generations.

The learning that has taken place during the preparation of the Village Development Action Plan involving the local community includes an assessment of current planning and budgeting scenario and a plan for decentralized planning and budgeting. Also in-house capability has been developed to prepare this plan. This has resulted in a better understanding of poverty, its indicators, measurement and root causes specific to Sikkim and the ways and means to prevent, reduce and eliminate poverty from the State

I am particularly pleased to note that the Village Development Action Plan for comprehensive and holistic development of villages of Sikkim has been prepared at a time when the conducive policy frame work, substantial funding for Panchayati Raj Institution and elaborate institutional mechanism, both in terms of infrastructure and man power are in place. From the current year, each Gram Panchayat Unit will be receiving between Rs.70 to Rs.80 lakhs annually including grants from 13th Finance Commission, 3rd State Finance Commission and funds under MG-NREGA, BRGF (i.e. Backward Region Grant Fund) and National Rural Drinking Water Programme. This financial assistance will be available to Panchayats exclusively to plan and implement schemes within their domain for creating social and economic infrastructure, improving civic amenities, conserving and developing natural resources and enhancing livelihood opportunities.

As this distinguished gathering is aware, poverty alleviation is not merely limited to enhancing income levels of the citizens, but is being assessed as a measure of capabilities, opportunities, freedom and the assets of the households to have sustainable livelihoods and access to other social security measures. The rural development programmes of my Government are focused in adopting a multi-pronged approach towards poverty alleviation through decentralized development planning and local governance.

The State Government is implementing several programmes relating to wage employment guarantee, self-employment, skill development and capacity building, sanitation and drinking water, housing, rural health, education, rural connectivity, water, tourism and natural resource conservation for inclusive growth of the people in rural areas in general and disadvantaged sections of the society in particular. Seventy (70%) percent of Plan fund of the State Government continues to be earmarked for the rural areas. We are focusing on universalizing access to sustainable employment, infrastructure, sanitation, connectivity, quality health, quality education and housing.

The insightful observation made by the Nobel Laureate of the famous Grameen Bank in Bangladesh, Prof. Muhammad Yunus is very revealing. The Nobel Laureate said “World’s income distribution gives a very telling story. Ninety-four percent of the world income goes to 40 percent of the population while 60 percent of people live on only 6 percent of world income. Half of the world population lives on two dollars a day. Over one billion people live on less than a dollar a day. This is no formula for peace”

However, if we compare Sikkim with other States and other Countries in the light of the above observation, the people in Sikkim are far more secured living a more comfortable life. It is due to consistent efforts and pro-poor policies and programmes of our Government that the percentage of people living Below Poverty Line has come down from 41 per cent in 1993-94 to 20 per cent in 2005 and less than 10 percent at present.

Therefore, our next target has been to further close the gap of urban-rural disparity, complete eradication of poverty, diversify income generation measures and livelihood options, access to quality education and quality health facilities and all-season connectivity.

Nelson Mandela says, “Like slavery and apartheid, poverty is not natural. It is manmade, and can be overcome and eradicated by the actions of human beings.” In order to eradicate poverty, my Government has launched several developmental and welfare initiatives in the State with particular stress on eradication of rural poverty. This has brought about a perceptible change in the lives of the people in the villages.

For long, I have felt and experienced that poverty is the root cause of all the problems in the world. Without eradicating poverty, we can not achieve other development goals. Therefore, I wish to reiterate that my government attaches the highest priority to the successful implementation of the anti-poverty programmes and is committed to realizing the mission of a “Poverty Free Sikkim” by 2015. We are making concerted and coordinated efforts to improve the quality and delivery of public services to achieve the objectives of deepening and widening of rural prosperity and well being. We are committed to make rural Sikkim, not only poverty free, but also the backbone of inclusive social and economic growth in which as Mother Teresa would say, we will effectively address the greatest ‘poverty of being unwanted, unloved and uncared for’ with utmost tenderness and love.

Today, Sikkim has emerged as the most happening State in the Country creating many exemplary models of development in all sectors. Why and how is this small State tucked in the high Himalayas, able to break away from the conventional thinking and approach? There are certain elemental factors in our thinking that has gone into the making of new Sikkim, bringing in new thrust and new focus. We must let the country and the world take notice of this transformation evident in every field.

Generally speaking, the third world countries are faced with a number of problems like poverty, lack of access to affordable quality education, health care and reliable infrastructure. However, I honestly feel that, more so, we are afflicted by the recurring third world mindset- lacking in positive assertion, lack of creative energy, innovative thinking and imaginative out-of-box approach that fundamentally lends us with modern, scientific, tenable and sustainable shift to push our overall development scenario into the fast tract mode.

Sikkim, as the fastest growing State within the developing country presents many exemplary development stories. This is a progressive State, because our mindset is that of the first world country and that of the first world economy. And the Village Development Action Plan is part and parcel of this long-term thought process of the First World mindset.

We have already created many new development milestones, many development initiatives which are the first of their kind not only in the State but in the entire Country. I would like to briefly present them before this distinguished gathering comprising of elected representatives, policy makers, implementing agencies and the general stakeholders.

1. Total Organic State- Sikkim the first State to adopt state-wide organic farming practices to make it total organic by 2015;

2. Environment Management- Sikkim the first State to undertake many innovative and green initiatives including Smriti Ban, Green Mission and Ten Minutes to Earth;

3. Sikkim the first State to remain neat and clean;

4. Sikkim the first ever State to successfully ban use of plastic, killing of wild animals, green felling in forest, ban on grazing etc.;

5. Tourism destination- Sikkim the first State to promote and popularize the concept of eco-tourism and village tourism;

6. Total Literate State- Sikkim the first State to undertake large number of measures to make it fully literate by 2015;

7. Education as topmost priority- Sikkim as the first State to put education on topmost priority with over 20 percent plan allocation;

8. Sikkim the first State to provide for free education, free uniform, text book, free scholarship, educational loan, Chief Minister’s Free Scholarship for students pursuing higher studies in top 20 Universities of the world;

9. Capacity Building initiatives- Sikkim the first State to introduce concept of capacity building to train our educated youths in different trades and professions;

10. CMSES- Sikkim the first State to introduce the Chief Minister’s Self Employment Scheme to assist young entrepreneurs;

11. Healthy Sikkim Mission- Sikkim the first State to provide free medicine, provide free Hepatitis B and MDR vaccination, introduce mobile clinic;

12. CATCH- Sikkim the first State to introduce the Chief Minister’s Comprehensive Annual and Total Check-up for Healthy Sikkim (CATCH) campaign. Under the program, Doctors and medical team would assist every Sikkimese to undergo medical check up annually for both preventive and curative measures on a compulsory basis.

13. A fulfilled State- Sikkim the first State to fully provide the basic minimum needs to people;

14. Social Justice- Sikkim the first State to introduce range of social safety measures and to ensure equitable growth and development of all citizens;

15. Sikkim the first State to provide for comprehensive reservation to all section of population including the business community;

16. Sikkim first State to vigorously promote cooperative movement through preferential grant to cooperative societies to execute development works of below Rs. 50 lakhs at the GPU level and Rs. 2 crores at the district level;

17. Sikkim the first State to provide free LPG connection to BPL families;

18. Sikkim the first State to provide for free distribution of 35 kg rice to the most needy BPL families;

19. Sikkim the first State to provide for free housing under the Mukhya Mantri Awas Yojana at the cost of Rs. 6 lakhs each;

20. Sikkim first State to undertake complete modernization, greening and expansion of all urban market place on the model of MG Marg in Gangtok;

21. Sikkim the first State to fully devolve administrative and financial power to the grass root functionaries under the decentralized regime;

22. Sikkim the first State to provide for 40 percent seat reservation to women under Panchayati Raj Institution, which is being raised to 50 percent from the next Panchayat election;

23. Sikkim the first State in the Country to provide for monthly Honorarium to both the Members of rural and urban elected bodies;

24. Sikkim the first State to conceptualize and execute construction of char dham to locate all the four dhams in India within a single complex;

25. Sikkim the first to initiate and build the underground Monastery in the State.

26. Sikkim as the first State to continue to emerge as the most secular State in the Country;

27. Sikkim as the first State which is completely peaceful;

28. Sikkim the first State to successfully adopt and promote the concept of reverse integration vis-à-vis its relationship with the mainland India and the fellow citizens;

29. Sikkim the first ever State to provide for the highest pay structure to its employees across all ranks and posts.

Preparation of the Village Development Action Plan would serve as the guide book for scientific village planning for the present and will remain relevant for future development and progress. Apart from offering a long term action plan, this document will also, inter alia, help us to curb unemployment by creating host of employment avenues at the grass root level- and this at a time when we are contemplating multiple interventions to tackle this global menace.

Professor Dafflon has crossed the deep oceans and the dreary desert sands taking all troubles in his strides to share our concern and lend his helping hands. We are immensely thankful to you Sir for accepting our request to offer us this consultancy services and we are deeply indebted to you for sparing your precious time, energy and intellectual inputs to give concrete shape to our vision and dream. I express deep sense of gratitude and thank Professor Dafflon and his entire team for giving us this priceless document. I compliment and congratulate the Panchayats and people of Sikkim for their cooperation including that of Aritar Gram Panchayat Unit for working as team to prepare this comprehensive blueprint for village planning and development under the able guidance of Professor Dafflon.

I would also urge all the Panchayats present here to implement the Village Development Action Plan in their respective Gram Panchayat Units in a time-bound manner. Sikkim can become poverty-free only when all the 163 Gram Panchayat Units become poverty-free. And every citizen will become productive only when every Gram Panchayat Unit upgrades its functioning into wholly productive mode. This should be the ultimate goal of the Village Development Action Plan.

It is the declared policy of the State Government to develop the villages of Sikkim on the lines of the rural areas of Switzerland and make Sikkim, “the Switzerland of the East”. In March 2006, I had led a delegation to Switzerland and was highly impressed and enriched by the significant and very commendable strides that Switzerland has made in the past few decades particularly as a leading example of sustainable development. My interaction with Professor Thomas Fleiner, Director at the Institute of Federalism, University of Fribourg, gave me a deep insight into the concept of fiscal federalism and empowerment of people at the grass root level. As a result of my very fruitful interactions with Professors and Professionals in Switzerland, today we are ably guided by Professor Dafflon.

And knowing full well that we follow him with the faith of a sheep in her shepherd, we cannot go wrong, we cannot afford to go otherwise and under his matured guidance we must go the full circle to fulfill our mission thus defined, our promises to people thus made and our sacred duty thus expressed as the faithful soldiers of Democracy- as usual and as always.

Thank you Professor Dafflon for your assurance and your kind presence

Thank you all.