Chief Minister Shri Pawan Chamling addresses State Level Sammelan

for Panchayats & Urban Municipal bodies

-confers Panchayat Shri honours to Panchayats

Gangtok, August 4, 2010: Chief Minister Shri Pawan Chamling today addressed the Panchayats and Municipal bodies and shared his overall impression of the working of the panchayats in the State. The Chief Minister also conferred the Panchayat Shri honours to some selected serving Panchayats. He was addressing the state level Sammelan  for Panchayats and Urban bodies as Chief Guest here at Paljor Stadium, Gangtok.

Shri Chamling said that the present government has tried to decentralize power to local bodies more and urged them to realize the same with dignity and integrity and responsibility. Highlighting various State Government initiatives undertaken by government for empowerment of grassroots governance, Shri Chamling said Sikkim will become only successful state if all the members of the grassroots functionaries become stronger and proactive in nation building mission. * watch video at bottom

At present, the panchayats have been authorized to collect levy/tax from rural areas and also authorized to issue trade license, appointment of one Panchayat Accountant coordination with Block Administrative Centers and district administration, Shri Chamling apprised.

With implementation of the Third Finance Commission grass-root governance will be   more powerful and resourceful, he added. He directed all the Gram Panchayayts, Zilla Panchayats and Urban bodies to assist the government employees posted in their respective areas to work harder for the collective wellbeing of people

Focusing the state government’s thrust on agriculture sector, Chamling said that to make  Sikkim self reliant in agriculture sector, he said that government has decided to used all agriculture  land available for cultivation  of food grains and alternative cash crops production including fruits  cultivation. He said that the government has initiated to provide irrigation facilities in 3,800 hectors dry field for cultivation in Sikkim by 2015. After the completion and construction of irrigation facilities in rural and cultivate d dry land Sikkim own production in agriculture will grown up by thrice then present production, Chamling said. He said that irrigation channels below  10 lakhs will be constructed under MGNREGA and the power has been delegated to gram panchayats for making proposals and verification of water sources and priority for development rural agriculture land without  favoring any contractors, MLAs, Ministers and even for the Panchayats  own interest.

C B Karki, Minister for rural Management and Development department said that unless and the grass-root governance becomes stronger, the socio- economic upliftment of rural people and physical development of rural Sikkim would not be successful. He urged gram panchayats and zilla panchayats for more pro-active role in mission to build Sikkim a model state in India and ultimate tourist destination in real sense.