Chief Minister’s message to the people on Republic Day

On the auspicious occasion of the 62nd Republic of the Nation, Chief Minister Pawan Chamling has extended his heartfelt felicitations and new year good wishes to the people of Sikkim to bring more happiness, progress and prosperity to the people and a new enthusiasm to carry forward the huge task of the state and nation building as envisaged under the Constitution. Furthermore on the occasion of Republic Day the CM pays rich tribute to the freedom fighters who attained martyrdom during the freedom struggle for the cause of freedom so that we could live as free citizens. At the same time he has respectfully paid his homage to the founding
fathers of the constitution which guides the destiny.

Further he has said that India is the largest democracy on earth and this is an occasion for every citizen to rededicate themselves to the great ideals and the sacred responsibility to offer the best practice of democratic polity for the entire world. The principles of liberty, equality and fraternity as epitomized in the constitution form the basis of the national unity and anchor sheet of human dignity and mutual brotherhood in the context of prevailing linguistic, religious and socio-cultural diversities.

The Chief Minister also mentioned the constitution which was adopted 61 years ago by the nation which continues to guide and nurture the country and its people. The constitution has provided a broad framework for the people of India to work and function as per democratic norms. India today is a strong nation built upon democratic ethos and as per the principles enshrined in the constitution.

Furthermore in Sikkim CM states that the ruling government have shouldered responsibility in the most responsible manner and have consciously endeavored to contribute towards national safety and prosperity. The state enjoys unparalleled peace, progress and prosperity. The government has fulfilled its assurances to the people one after another in tune with the law of the land while duly fulfilling commitments and collective wishes of the people. Adding further he has said that the government is consciously working for the consolidation of socio- cultural foundation of the state, while building modern infrastructure and designing liberalization measures to steadily integrate the state with the emerging trends in the national economy. In doing so, the government have not lost sight of the rich culture and heritage which are duly being preserved and promoted.

It is widely acknowledged that Sikkim today is one of the most happening States in the country. Stating further CM says that government holds credit for more than 20 national and other awards in various categories conferred by the Government of India and other agencies in the field of education, health, tourism, environmental management, security and justice etc. In the overall planning process of the State, government have consistently kept national perspective and the developmental policy directives of the government of India in mind to evolve a competitive development strategy dovetailed to achieve national goal being mindful of its own specific development needs that are imperative to the overall socio economic health of the state. The conscious policy has been to embark on a path of sustainable economic development and self reliance, by harnessing its natural strength and natural resources. The priority of the government has been embedded on development of ecologically and environment-friendly tourism, horticulture and floriculture with specific stress on production of low volume high value organic agriculture and horticultural produce. Hydro power generation without environmental erosion, human resource development, health and rural development have received focused attention of the government ever since.

In fact, out of the total hydro-power potential of 8000 MW, the government have chalked out clear road map to harness the targeted capacity of 5,000 MW within 2015 to generate Rs. 1,500 corers revenue annually. In addition, the target is also to develop Micro, Mini and Small Hydro Power Projects for a total capacity of 278 MW.

Stressing upon education the Chief Minister has added that education is a priority sector of the government where 20% of plan allocation is devolved. The government has focused on providing quality education for the children. This is to be achieved by having trained and quality teachers for science and mathematics. Class V level competition is organized yearly to select the best 50 students from government schools which will be 100 this year to study in public schools has become very popular as amongst the best 20 of them are sent to reputed public schools outside the state.

Under Chief Minster’s educational loan schemes the children have been sponsored for commercial pilot training in Dallas and Arizona, USA, hospitality management in Australia and Dubai and masters in IT in Sydney, Australia, human resource management in UK and to reputed Universities in the Country. The cumulative amount provided by the state government as soft loan and grant to prospective entrepreneurs, students for higher studies has touched approximately 100 corers so far. This has resulted in employment opportunities in tourism, hospitality, animal husbandry and agro industries, health care and IT.

Similarly, adding further CM adds that under the Chief Ministers’ Self Employment scheme, over 6100 candidates have availed of the benefits with a financial involvement of Rs. 63.07 corers for starting small ventures of their own.

An institute of capacity building with its directorate of capacity building has been established with one livelihood school each in every constituency for undertaking vocational training to absorb the youth in the service sector. Thousands of educated unemployed are being engaged in different skill up gradation institutes within and outside the State.

The state government has carried out range of democratic reforms, whether it is decentralization of functions and powers to the panchayati raj institutions, or local bodies, the State has always facilitated them for the people. Adding further it is said that the government has also successfully completed the elections to the urban local bodies recently. The result of the polls is a testimony to the good work and good governance of the government. Gangtok municipal council has a mayor, deputy mayor and councilors and in other nagar panchayat’s, have President and Ward Members who now take care of the smaller urban bodies.
The state government has been tackling key issues like the urban-rural divide long before this was acknowledged even at the national level. In order to bridge this divide, 70% of the state plan has been devolved to the rural sector.

By successfully addressing the basic issue of roti kapda aur makan, CM has added that the government is further consolidating the effort to make life qualitative and more competitive. This is being done through promoting greater cooperative movement in the state penetrating the remotest of the villages in the State. The response of the people in participating in the cooperative sector is huge. The total registered cooperative societies in the state today is 1630 of which 195 are the milk producers’ cooperative societies, 74 consumers’ cooperatives, 967 cooperatives being run by educated unemployed youths including labor and women of the State.

Adding further he has said that the government has also launched far reaching initiatives to enrich women folks under the economic program called universal financial inclusion. Under this program, government sponsors 1 lakh households under the Financial Inclusion Project in the State. Bank account through the business correspondent route of any nationalized or good private bank in the name of female member of the household are being opened all over the State. All cash transactions under different schemes covering old age pensions, women’s empowerment grants, employment guarantee scheme and other similar financial grants available to the member of household are directly credited to her account. This project will also provide insurance cover to maximum of six members of the household of the main women members for unforeseen perils like life, health and accident through insurance cover.

The women being the key figure in the household performs key role in the development of a family. Similarly, small family scheme for the school going girl children has been introduced to encourage good education and late marriage of girl child in the State. In this manner, the state government empowers the women folks. The idea is to strengthen economic based with financial discipline among the common masses and achieve 100% financial inclusion in all villages and the districts of the state within a reasonable time frame. In addition, the state government has enhanced the monthly pension grant from Rs. 400 to Rs. 600, and a new initiative called samajik sewa bhatta at the rate of Rs. 500 per month has been introduced for traditional faith healers to preserve religion and cultural diversity.

The progress that the government has achieved in the social sector is a testament to an evolution that has taken place when the ruling government came to serve the people. Adding further CM has said that the primary goal of the ruling government was to save succeeding generations from the scourge of poverty, injustice and joblessness. Over the years, we have met with success in tackling some of these problems and government’s efforts are still continuous and relentless.

Similarly CM has said that on the path to progress, the citizens will see that the number of pensioners under the Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension scheme (IGNOAPS) has arisen by 1767% and the pension amount endowed to the IGNOAPS pensioners has increased by 500%, which is phenomenal in itself. Not forgetting the physically challenged persons that comprise approximately 3% of the total population of the state, they are covered under the subsistence allowance scheme, the coverage of beneficiaries have increased by 1580% and the pension amount by 500%. A total of 2121 widows have been bequeathed with a onetime immediate relief of Rs.10, 000/- under the national family benefit scheme, bearing in mind, that the bereaved family is supported during the difficult hours of their lives. The state government resolves to tenaciously cover every deserving BPL person under these schemes by 2015.

Furthermore CM has thanked each and every citizen of the state as they have stood by the ruling government over the course of past seventeen years. At this defining moment the government should be proud of the accomplishments. From 1994 to 2010, the number of ICDS projects has increased from mere four to thirteen. The integrated child development services (ICDS) is the Nation’s answer to the task of providing basic nutrition and health care to children below the age of 6 years and women in the reproductive age group with supplementary feeding, immunization, health check -up, referral services, nutrition and health education and non-formal pre-school education. With the increase in the number of projects, 52,123 children below the age of 6 years have been provided with all the care and services at the Anganwadi Kendra’s . A total of 2,528 expectant mothers have received services at these centers, an increase of 96% as compared to figures of 1993-94. A total of 4,884 nursing mothers have been nurtured at these centers throughout the state. Since 1994-95, a total of 17,657 pre-school children have attended Anganwadi Kendra’s. This is a marked increase from the previous figure of 10,302 children till 1993-94. With the increase in awareness of health and nutrition, so well propagated by the Anganwadi Kendra’s till date, 50,160 and 72,911 pregnant mothers and children respectively have been immunized at these centers. Furthermore he has added that the government will relentlessly pursue to expand the number of AWCs in the urban and the rural areas in the state by 2015, seeing that every neighborhood is served by these centers.

With all the chartered time bound programmes at hand to be completed by 2015, the support of all the citizens is imperative. Only then, the pledge for better quality of life for the future generation would be successful adds the message.

The need to have a state-of-art super specialty hospital is being realized as the ruling government has begun the construction of a 575 super specialty hospital at gangtok. This ambitious project is likely to be completed in due course of time. The hospital will supplement the existing health facilities in the state and provide best practices of health care delivery for the people. The peripheral development of the health sector is another area requiring attention for the development. In order to address this concern, the government have launched a number of health schemes and many of them are innovative and the first of their kind in the entire country.

One of them has been the Chief Minister’s Comprehensive Annual and Total Check-up for Healthy Sikkim (CATCH) which provides for compulsory annual health check up for all citizens annually. This will facilitate early detection of diseases among people, if any, and preventive and curative methods could be followed to keep the citizens healthy. Provision for mobile medical units has been provided in all four districts with facilities for clinical examination and other related facilities. Mobile vans have been provided for school health program. Based on our pro-poor approach, the government has worked out a comprehensive health care delivery system including creation of Mukhya Mantri Jeevan Rakshya Kosh, Mukhya Mantri Netra Jyoti Yojna, Mukhya Mantri Sravan Shakti Samriddhi Yojana, Mukhya Mantri Antodaya Upchar Bima Yojana and Mukhya Mantri Antyodaya Pustahaar Yojana.

The Ministry of development of north eastern region has been administering funds from the non lapsable central pool of resources for infrastructure development in the state. The implementation of NLCPR schemes in Sikkim began in the year 1998-99. 201 schemes till date have been sanctioned at a total cost of Rs. 701.45 corers. 151 projects have been completed and 23 projects are ongoing. Against the release of Rs. 552.97 corers, the state has utilized Rs. 509.72 corers.

Some significant achievement under NLCPR are the ropeways from Deorali to Tashiling, the up gradation of Paljor Stadium, remodeling of transmission line of Gangtok, extension of Gangtok sewerage phase I and II etc. Over the decade, there has been phenomenal growth in terms of building of infrastructure and institutions in Sikkim. Major projects like construction of airport and rail link are being under various stages of implementation. Historical destinations like state museum, community centers, village libraries including the statue of Guru Padmasambhava, Char Dham, Buddha Park, Chen Regiz and underground monastery are being completed or at various stages of completion.

Similarly, ever since inclusion of Sikkim into the north eastern council, the state government have reaped rich dividend. So far over 100 schemes have been sanctioned by the NEC and have completed 50 projects physically and financially. Against the sanction amount of Rs. 33405.74 lakhs, Rs. 18175.37 lakhs have been utilized so far.

Quite clearly, over the decades, the government has adopted the best available development options and the best instrument to achieve maximum result. The transformation evident in the life standard of people and their aspiration for better and modern facilities to live complete life bear testimony to the pro-people development programs of the last sixteen years. Through both short-term and long-term strategies, the ruling government have successfully addressed the immediate requirement of people and also laid out a clear future road map to development. For example, the per capita income of Rs. 8,402 in 1993-94 has recorded quantum jump to reach an impressive Rs. 43,901 at current price during 2008-09.

In the areas of social justice, women empowerment, education, health, infrastructure building, the achievement of the SDF Government has been phenomenal. Further on, the government have put themselves on mission mode action for our future course of action based on the ambitious Mission 2015 target that seek to bring about complete, comprehensive and holistic development in the state making our citizens as the best citizens, capable, foresighted and best human being. Some of them include the following:

Village Development Mission
Complete Decentralization and devolution
Harnessing hydro-power potential
Sikkim Poverty Free Mission
Social Security Mission
Sikkim Cooperative Mission
Healthy Sikkim Mission
Sikkim as Producer State
Sikkim Green Mission
Eco-tourism destination:
Sikkim Organic Mission
Sikkim Self Reliant Mission
Total Literate State
Universal Financial Inclusion
Beautification and Modernization of Bazaars
Promotion of local talents
Total Connectivity

Under each and every Mission, a detailed program seeking to introduce, incorporate or strengthen the existing strategies to make them fully competitive and wholesome are being laid. The ruling government is pursuing the goals in the right earnest with the sole aim of making skkim as the developed state in the country by 2015. Guided by the spirit of the constitution thus adopted and encouraged further by the consistent support of the people of sikkim, the government will address the hardship and move ahead to make sikkim self reliant within the time frame set by the state government.

Adding further CM said that as Sikkim state is located in the high himalayas and surrounded by three international borders, we face hardship imposed by nature. The options and instruments normally available with the mainland states for big-time development intervention are naturally unavailable with the state. However, the government is on a mission mode to fully harness the rich natural resources state holds , for the collective interest of the people of sikkim in a way that is best suited to bring in overall prosperity of the state. Former president of the country, APJ Abdul Kalam has recently observed that ‘possession of natural resources defined power in the past, at present knowledge has become true source of power.’

Similarly CM has said that “ I am happy to share that we possess both the rich natural resources and also modern-age knowledge to reposition ourselves to suitably chart out our own course of action and fulfill the
hopes and aspiration of the people”.

2011 is international year of forests with theme of “FOREST FOR PEOPLE” to commemorate and celebrate role of people in the sustainable management conservation and development of the world’s forests.

Sikkim is a pioneer state in mainstreaming gender issues in forestry sector. At this moment 125 newly recruited Forest Guards of which 45 (i.e. 35%) are ladies, who along with their 80 male counterparts are being trained to produce a disciplined, scientifically-inclined and people oriented work force at the grassroots level.
This is yet another first for Sikkim. Under the 13th finance commission, Sikkim is also the proud recipient of green bonus for the period 2010 to 2015. Based on the track record on environment management and the consistency with which we sustain and promote this green campaign, the state have created exemplary conservation model for the entire country.

Adding further CM has said that guided by our sacred Document, the country has progressed by leaps and bound and emerged as a principal partner in the league of global power. After the citizens embrace the new principle of liberalization and globalization, the tempo of development will further accelerate leading to creation of wider development avenues and pool of human resources on the strength of merit and competition. The US President while addressing the Indian parliamentarians on November 8 last year has said, “India is not simply emerging; India has already emerged.” Furthermore CM has said that in the overall growth and development of the country, Sikkim have made special contribution as a border state in the maintenance of atmosphere of perfect peace, tranquility, communal harmony and accelerated growth and development in the entire Country.
Adding further he has mentioned that Sikkim have collectively resolved to secure all the citizens justice, liberty, equality and fraternity six decades ago, the government did indeed, inbuilt protective shields to promote the cause, security and benefit of the country and the countrymen for all time to come. This therefore, enjoins upon the state to responsibly use our rights and duties for protecting and upholding the rule of law for the unity and integrity of the country. The four pillars of democracy upon which lie our destiny should be utilized for good cause and should never be misused for any vested motive. On this solemn occasion, he has called upon all fellow sikkimese to ponder over these democratic rights and also shoulder their duties and responsibilities as the proud citizens of our great Nation.

The government knows that peaceful law and order environment, political stability and good governance are the principal factors needed to foster development and prosperity. Towards this goal, the government has steadfastly worked ever since with 100 percent result. On this auspicious occasion, CM has called upon the Sikkimese people to forever uphold this environment of peace and tranquility and continue to remain the torchbearer and the producer of peace and human values for all the countrymen.

On this happy and auspicious occasion, he have urged every citizen to pledge not to rest on the laurels but to work hard towards the set development goals in all sectors on a mission mode to be achieved by the year 2015 to help make Sikkim self reliant and a model state in the country.

source:isikkim