GANGTOK, :
Sikkim Krantikari Morcha which completed its fifth year in office on Monday outlined
major initiatives taken by the P.S. Golay-led government in the first term.
In a press release, the
party said the transformative policies implemented by the SKM government have significantly
improved Sikkim’s socio-economic landscape.
One major achievement
highlighted was the removal of the ‘foreigners’ tag associated with the
Sikkimese Nepali community. “The SKM government successfully removed the
‘foreigners’ tag imputed to the Sikkimese Nepali community which had remained
unaddressed during the entirety of the previous government which had made it an
election issue. It has restored the dignity and equality of the community and
has restored their rightful status as citizens of Sikkim,” the party said in
the release.
The abolition of party-based panchayat
elections was a landmark move, said the party. “The abolition of party-based
panchayat system has ensured that local bodies function impartially and serve
the community's best interests.”
Furthermore, the regularization of
temporary employees who had served over four years brought job security and
uplifted workforce morale, added SKM spokesperson Yougan Tamang in the release.
“Demonstrating its commitment to the workers' welfare, the SKM government
regularised all temporary employees who had completed over four years of
continuous service. This step has provided job security and boosted morale
among the workforce. In addition to this, all the temporary employees that
included teachers, assistant professors, those employed in various projects
such as JICA, ASHAs, etc. have also been regularised.”
The release adds that administrative
efficiency was bolstered by the creation of two new districts, bringing
governance closer to the people. Additionally, the discontinuation of extending
service periods for retired government employees opened avenues for younger
workforce and did justice to the cadres, Tamang added.
Furthermore, Tamang said that by
removing the viva voce component from Group 'C' and 'D' job interviews, the
government has promoted transparency and fairness in the recruitment process,
focusing purely on merit-based selection. The government also increased labour
wages to Rs. 15,000 per month, benefiting the working community, he added.
Educational initiatives included 50 free
MBBS seats for Sikkimese students and financial support to students from Below
Poverty Line (BPL) families.
Other achievements mentioned in the
release included one-year maternity and one-month paternity leave, scholarships
for students, price incentives to farmers for various crops, free medical
treatment, and establishment of hospitals and universities.
Internationally, Tamang said, Sikkim
gained recognition for the environmental initiative 'Mero Rukh Mero Santati,’
which was showcased at the CoP28 Summit in Dubai. Women empowerment schemes
like AAMA, Bahini and Vatsalya also garnered praise for their positive impact
on health, education and social security, he added.
“Establishment of sports and art
academies including Tarundeep Rai Archery Academy, Jaslal Pradhan Boxing
Academy and Bijay Mani Thulung Art Academy reflects the government's dedication
to nurturing talents in sports and arts, providing world-class training and
opportunities for the youth,” Tamang said, while adding that the implementation
of 50% reservation for women in the police force exemplified the SKM
government’s commitment to gender equality and security.
“The first term of the SKM government
has been a spectacular success can be gauged from the fact that not only did
Sikkim win many accolades but also for the first time in Sikkim's history,
there was pro-incumbency wave during the election,” the SKM spokesperson added.
