Union Minister for Panchayat Raj assured all help for Sikkim

Gangtok ;27.5.2013,  Union Minister for Panchayat Raj and Tribal Affairs Shri V. Kishore Chandra Deo has stressed the need for regular holding of gram sabha meetings to ensure people’s participation in the development process at the grass root level. Addressing of a meeting of rural local bodies at Chintan Bhavan in Gangtok this afternoon, the Minister said he has asked the states for video recording of such gram sahba meetings to ensure proper conduct of such meetings and also serve to as course correction in future.  Appreciating the achievements of Sikkim in implementation of Panchayat Raj Institution including regular holding of the Panchayat elections, the Union Minister assured all assistance from the Centre, particularly in capacity building. Referring to the Rajiv Gandhi Panchayat Sashaktikaran Abhiyan, Shri Deo said the scheme is aimed at strengthening the infrastructure development of the PRIs and urged the state government to put forward its requirements under the scheme. Shri Deo said his ministry in coordination with the Directorate of Telecommunication plans to provide broadband connection to all the panchayats by the year 2014 and sought the cooperation of the state government in laying of the OFC cables in this regard.  

Chief Minister Shri Pawan Chamling who addressed the meeting narrated the achievements of the state government in different fields including successful holding the Panchayat elections in November last year, 50% reservation for women in PRIs, allocation of 70% of the budget for rural development and construction of 29 block administrative centers throughout the state.

President, East Zilla Panchayat Shri Bimal Dewari, Secretary, Rural Management and Development Department Shri D.R Nepal also addressed the meeting. A documentary film on the functioning of the Panchayati Raj Institution in Sikkim was also screened on the occasion.  (PIB)