CRESP report is only a recommendation on present scenario

Gangtok, June 30: Even as comments are widespread over the CRESP report by the independent groups and majority opposition parties of the State, the State Government has said that the Executive Report of CRESP tabled at the last session of the Legislative Assembly held on 9n, and l0th June, 2008 has given justice to the people of Sikkim .

The State Government had constituted a Commission under the chairmanship of Prof. B.K. Roy Burman, an eminent social Scientist to review the policies, plan and programmes in respect of SCs, STs, OBCs and other socially and economically backward community and recommend measures. The Commission after a detailed study submitted its Executive Report on 31.3 .2008 recommending, amongst other things that the entire Sikkimese Bhutia, Sikkimese Lepcha and Sikkimese Nepalese communities be included in the list  of STs and that appropriate number of seats, out of the proposed strength of 40, be reserved for them in the SLA with the Bhutia and Lepcha continuing to have the benefit of 12 reserved seats unencumbered by the entitlement to the reserved seats for the new STs. The CRESP has recommended 12 seats for BLs, 2 for SCs, 2 for Sanghas, 20 for STs and 4 General.

The Executive Report submitted by CRESP was adopted at the last session of the Sikkim Legislative Assembly for forwarding to the Govt. of India for further necessary action.

‘While welcoming the response of various political parties and groups on the subject it may be mentioned that grant of Scheduled Tribe status and reservation of seats in the SLA for the Sikkimese Nepalese has been a long standing demand of various communities in the State since last few decades and the same had been placed before the Central Government from time to time. The Executive Report submitted by CRESP reflects the true perspective of situations and status of all sections of the Sikkimese people and Sikkim distinct as inhabited by Sikkimese of three categories duly recognized as Territorial Tribe in cases as a separate composite social entity', a press release stated issued by IPR.

‘Soon after the merger of the State with the Indian Union , OK Moorthy the then Director General, MHA, Government of India had quite correctly reflected that the Sikkimese Nepalese communities may also be recommended for inclusion as Scheduled Tribe. The Burman Commission Report has given Justice. All scientific and other facts even placed now justify tribal status as considered by the Government of India in 1976 for Sikkimese Nepalese', PR further stated.

Limboos and Tamangs have already been declared as Scheduled Tribes w.e.f. 7.1.2003 and there can be no negation of that status or their right for reservation of seats in the SLA . According to the IPR release, the Central Government had also asked for the formula and other justification for increase of the total number of seats in the Sikkim Legislative Assembly to 40 consequent to the meetings of the Chief Secretary with the Cabinet Secretary.

As per PR the CRESP report is only a recommendation and there is no difficulty in the Limboos and Tamangs benefiting from the reserved ST seats. They would in fact have the advantage of contesting from any of the 20 ST seats.

The SDF Government is Anti Farmer: BJP

Gangtok, June 29: The SDF Government is “Anti Farmer”, said C B Chettri, General Secretary of BJP Sikkim unit.

‘This has again been proved by its keeping silent on “Loan Waiver” scheme to small farmers. The scheme was known as early as during the presentation of Union Budget by the Union Finance Minister. The SDF Government should have mobilized the farmers to come forward through the Government machinery at District, Subdivision, Block Level and the VLW/Stockman level and though it's Party cadre. Since the SDF Government and the Party is anti-farmer, it does not seem to have taken any initiatives' he said.
'As far as BJP is concerned it was either coincidental or the Bank woke up after the Phone call of the BJP President to the NABARD and the Lead Bank that on the same day the phone call was made, the Bank through the All India Radio in the evening made an announcement of the loan waiver', he further stated. 
From the side of the BJP, it  has written on 26th June 2008 to the Lead Bank Manger to make the date of loan waiving upto 31st July 2002 and also give wide publicity either after holding the Press conference or through advertisement in the local papers especially through most read newspapers in Nepali language and also  inform the farmers through the District Collectors, District Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Officers, SDM, BDO, VLW etc. and  through the banks offices located at different places. The BJP would also be writing to the Union Finance Minister in case of the need to extend the date due to late information given to farmers
The BJP party appealed the SDF Government and the party to wake up and do their bits for the welfare of the farmers who are in debt and like BJP write to the Government of India to extend the date of waiving of the loan. ‘We hope that the SDF Government will take this a constructive suggestion for the sake of farmers and others entitled for the loan waiving', Chettri said.

State government officers appreciated the Chief Minister

Gangtok, June 26: An emergent meeting of the Sikkim Officer's Services Association was held at the Conference Hall of Tashiling Secretariat today under the Chairmanship of D.R.Kharel, President, Sikkim State Civil Service Officers' Association. All the organised Gazetted Officer's Associations were present in the meeting.

The meeting decided the arrangement to be made for conducting a rally on 28 June, 2008 by the Government Employees from Convey ground, Tadong which will culminate/terminate at Paljor Stadium after a brief address by the Representations of Associations. All the Associations wish to extend heartfelt thanks and good wishes to the Chief Minister for the relentless effort made by him in protecting the Sikkimese people including the local Government Employees from exemption of Income Tax.

Sikkim is always sandwiched during frequent bandhs in the neighboring state: Chamling

Gangtok, June 25: The five member delegation of the Secretaries from Government of India, Madhukar Gupta, Union Home Secretary, Vijay Singh, Union Defence Secretary, Bimal Julka, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Defence, Alok Sinha, Chief Managing Director, Food Corporation of India, and S. Sundereshan, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, called on the Chief Minister, Pawan Chamling at his official residence at Mintogang Tuesday morning.

During the meeting, the Chief Minister said that whenever there is agitation in the neighboring state, the land- locked Sikkim is always sandwiched and, with no fault of Sikkim, the state is made to suffer and victimized due to blockage of NH 31 A, the life line of Sikkim, during frequent bandhs when the flow of essential commodities and movement of vehicles are completely paralyzed. However, the saddest part, the Chief Minister said, is the lack of feeling on the part of both the Government of India and the Government of West Bengal which have been completely ignoring the plight of this sensitive border state during such bandhs for the last 22 years. The Chief Minister further told the Central team that apart from ensuring the flow of traffic in the National Highway immediate arrangements should be made to ensure the smooth movement of students in different schools and colleges and also provide additional 10-seater helicopter.

The Chief Minister also informed that the NH 31 A is the only route connecting Sikkim to the rest of the country which passes through Darjeeling district in West Bengal which is the main supply route and there is no rail link and air link except five seater helicopter service. He further informed that the state is landlocked which is surrounded by the foreign countries on three sides and have no any alternate exit; therefore the Government of India may take an appropriate step to resolve the problems of the state and its people with better solution.

The Union Home Secretary told the Chief Minister that the day the recent agitation began in the neighboring state, all level of Officers were seized of the problem being faced by Sikkim and the main objective of their visit to Sikkim just now is to asses the gravity of situation, to ensure that the blockade of road is removed and smooth flow of essential commodities and movement of traffic resumed. Informing the Chief Minister, he said that after this meeting there will be another meeting on the subject with the Chief Secretary of West Bengal in the evening at Bagdogra. He assured to resolve the situations through different approaches as soon as possible.

Similarly, the Defence Secretary told the Chief Minister that during their meeting with the Chief Secretary and other senior State Government Officer they will try to assess the extent of the current problem and devise ways and means to neutralize the current impasses. He said that the bandh is not correct and Government of India can do everything which is possible to ensure that the bandh do not affect the people of Sikkim .

The Union Home Secretary said that the centre is fully aware of the discomfort of the people of Sikkim and reassured the Chief Minister that they are fully committed to ensure that the free flow of traffic is not disrupted.

The Chief Minister further said that the state extends all co-operation and support to the centre and the centre also should look after this small, peaceful State of Sikkim where people are working as unpaid soldiers in this sensitive border state.

Geographic Information Systems to target the developmental programs of Sikkim

Gangtok, June 25: The Rural Management and Development Department, Government of Sikkim is harnessing the potential of latest development in the field of Space Enabled Technologies and Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Jointly with Department of Science and Technology and Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), setting up of Space Technology Enabled Village Resource Centres (VRC) in the 16 newly created Block Administrative Centres (BAC) is currently underway. This will enable digital connectivity for video conferencing and information transfer. The Village Resource Centre (VRC) programme will disseminate the portfolio of service emanating from the space systems as well as other information Technology (IT) tools, directly down-the-line to the rural communities. The VRCs essential have digital connectivity (for videoconferencing and information transfer) with knowledge centres and specialty healthcare provides-enabled via INSAT satellite; spatial information on natural resources generated using IRS data; a host of information pertaining to management of nature resources and socio-economic relevance; and facilities for primary healthcare services and distance education. With involvement of the stakeholders, VCRs will catalyze rural entrepreneurship; and facilitate e-Governance and other services of social relevance.

Secondly, an in-house study has been initiated by the Department suing Geographic Information System (GIS) to examine and illustrate the basic features of relative poverty in the state including its extent, distribution and locations of relative poverty hotspots depicted through poverty maps. This will help to target the poorest Gram Panchayat Wards (GPW) in the development programs of the state. The source of information for this study was the State Household Socio-economic Census, DESME, 2005 and Census of India, 2001. Out of the 905 Gram Panchayat Wards having 19, 235 poor households, 11 Panchayat had 0% poverty incidence wards, 389 Panchayat wards had 0-20% poverty incidence, 383 Panchayat wards had 20-40% poverty incidence, 111 Panchayat wards had 40-60% poverty incidence (3854 poor households), and 11 panchayat wards had 60-80% poverty incidence (487 poor households). Of these 122 gram panchayat wards with greater than 40% poverty rate, 9 are in north district, , 15 in east district, 44 in south district and 54 in west district.

The Government has given the go ahead to lay special emphasis on these 122 Gram Panchayat Wards with more than 40% poverty rate in existing developmental programs as well as to initiate special programs to support these poorest Gram Panchayat Wards. Sikkim has now become amongst the few states in the country to use scientific poverty mapping based in GIS to target the developmental programs of the state, to bring about a more equitable and balanced development.

CM reviews the stock position of essential commodities in the State

Gangtok, June 23: A meeting was convened at Mintokgang this morning under the Chairmanship of the Chief Minister, Pawan Chamling to review the stock position of essential commodities in the State and devise ways and means to replenish the depleted stock of various items resulted from the ongoing indefinite strike called by the Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha (GJMM) in Darjeellng Hills.
The meeting was attended by the Chief Secretary, N. D. Chingapa, Additional Chief Secretary-cum-Finance Secretary, Home Secretary, Development Commissioner, Food Secretary, Managing Director, STCS and the Principal Secretary and the Additional Secretary to the Chief Minister.
During the meeting the concerned officers apprised the Chief Minister about the State's storage capacity of Motor Spirit and High Speed Diesel which are 255 KL and 875 KL respectively, enough to last only two days, 780 KL of Kerosene Oil to last only for 3 days and 10,700 MT of Wheat/Rice (including PDS & Open) in FCI Godown and almost equivalent capacity in the State Food Godowns, enough to last 2 months.
The Chief Minister, who had already telephonically discussed the latest situation arising out of the indefinite bandh called by the GJMM with the Union Home Minister, Shivraj Patel on June 22 and 23 followed by an official letter, directed the concerned officers to take advantage of the relaxation in the bandh and also arrange the stocks of essential commodities to its full capacity when the Union Home Minister is seized of the matter with his total concern. He also asked the officers to work out the modalities to put the operational mechanism in ground to ensure continuous flow of essential commodities even after the resumption of bandh.
In this connection it may be noted that the Chief Minister had also requested the Union Home Minister to take all necessary steps at the earliest including issue of explicit, unambiguous and workable instructions to the Government of West Bengal and Army to ensure regular flow of traffic along 31 A National Highway so that supplies of essential commodities to the State are ensured and the people do not feel a sense of alienation, particularly in view of the recent developments in North Sikkim.
Meanwhile, a high level team of officials consisting of Union Home Secretary, Union Defence Secretary, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Defence and Managing Director, Indian Oil Corporation will be reaching Gangtok tomorrow (24/6/2008) and hold a meeting with the Chief Secretary and senior State Government Officers on the latest situation. The Central delegation will also call on the Chief Minister.

Siliguri, June 23: A meeting with all the managers of banks in North Bengal and Sikkim including NABARD, on the progress of banks on waiving of loans under Debt Waiver and Debt Relief Scheme for farmers in North Bengal and Sikkim was held today at NHPC Guest House, Siliguri. The meeting was chaired by the Minister of Information & Broadcasting, Priya Ranjan Das Munshi. During a press conference the Minister informed that this is the second and final review meeting for the identification of farmers of North Bengal, Hill areas of Darjeeling and Sikkim to get benefit under this scheme. He said the Debt Waiver and Debt Relief Scheme was announced during the budget speech for 2008-09 by the Finance Minister and the work is going on. He informed that 95% of the work completed in plain area and Sikkim and work is pending in hill areas due to bandh etc. However, the banks of Darjeeling hill areas are working to maintain the dead line 30th June, 2008. The Minister said he would approach the Prime Minister and Finance Minister in case the dead line is not feasible in the hill areas of Darjeeling district due to the present situation. He said, poultry farmers who are affected upto 31st March, 2008 will come under this scheme. Land development bank and Self Help Group under agriculture development upto 31st December, 2007 will get benefit under this scheme.
He emphasized all the eligible farmers will be covered under this scheme and list of the beneficiaries will be displayed on 30th June, 2008 in all the banks to avoid intermediaries' role.
The Minister expressed satisfaction with the performance of banks in North Bengal and Sikkim and the Field Officers and extended congratulation to all the banks in West Bengal and Sikkim for completion of 95% survey.

Home Minister assured for the movement of essential commodities for Sikkim

Gangtok, July 22: In response to the Chief Minister Pawan Chamling's letter to the Prime Minister written on 20th July regarding the difficulties faced by Sikkim due to the indefinite bandh in the neighboring district of Darjeeling, Union Home Minister, Shivraj Patil telephonically spoke to Chamling this morning expressing deep concern over the situation. He assured full cooperation and assistance for the safe movement of essential commodities to Sikkim. He further informed that he is taking up the matter immediately with the West Bengal Govt. for making arrangements for the movement of essential commodities in convoys under central Para-military forces/ army with magisterial support to Sikkim without any disruption to avoid any inconvenience to the people of Sikkim.

Chamling for Ladhak model to provide IT exemption to business community of Sikkim

Gangtok, June 22: Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Chamling today said he was seriously considering adopting the Ladhak model to ensure Income Tax exemption for the old business community of the state.
''I am studying the Ladhak model where the business community in that region have been exempted from Income Tax and will be moving files with the Centre to provide the same relief to our business community and those who are working in Sikkim for many years,'' said Chamling during a function of his Sikkim Democratic Front party at the party head office in Gangtok
The Centre had recently exempted Sikkimese subject holders and those having Certificate of Identification from the purview of Direct Income Tax.
''The old business community living in Sikkim for generations will now have to pay Income Tax now as they do not have Sikkim Subjects or Certificate of Identifications. The community has been pressing the state to seek similar exemption as their Sikkimese counterparts, '' he said.
Stating that he had now arrived at the Ladhak model to provide relief to the old business community and others working in the state, Chamling appealed the community to help him.
However, the Chief Minister also slammed the business community for not taking the Sikkim subjects which they had been offered by the Chogyal and now taking the state government to court on petty issues.
The CM was addressing a gathering observing 'Kranti Diwas' today. The Kranti Diwas was observed by Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) party today in all constituencies of the state with the intention of ushering a fresh revolution of welcome changes and development in this tiny Himalayan state.

Life paralysed, Sikkim cut off, GLP enrolment takes off

Siliguri, June 22: Life in Darjeeling hills continued to remain paralysed and Sikkim was cut off from the rest of the country as Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM)-sponsored indefinite bandh demanding Gorkhaland entered the seventh day today, officials said.
GJM press secretary Benoy Tamang ruled out any immediate possibility to call off the bandh or declaration of recess to help people buy food and essentials.
Tamang said that hundreds of youths, including girls, volunteered to get themselves enrolled in the Gorkhaland Personnel (GLP) wing this morning and were undergoing physical fitness test.
The GLP, a proposed force of 5,000 youths would be formed to control traffic, ensure discipline, take up social welfare measures, ensure that tourists were not not harassed and tackle anti-socials for making Darjeeling hills a land of peace, he said.
Tamang congratulated the hill people for observing the bandh peacefully for the greater cause of statehood despite facing hardships.
There was no report of any untoward incident, police said.