Sikkim Herald

Mangan, January 26: (IPR) North Sikkim celebrated the 71st Republic Day in a grand manner with much patriotism, Chief Guest of the day Area MLA –cum- Minister for Roads & Bridges and Culture Affairs Department; Shri Samdup Lepcha unfurled the national flag followed by national anthem and guard of honor at Zilla Panchayat Bhawan complex, Pentok, North Sikkim.

Second session of the day commenced at conference hall of NDZP Bhawan with lighting of lamp by the chief guest followed by patriotic song preformed by the student of North Sikkim Academy.

Gyalshing, 26th January, 2020 (IPR): The 71st Republic Day was celebrated in a grand manner by the District Administration Center (DAC) in the DAC Complex, Rabdentse, West Sikkim. Shri. L. N. Sharma, Minister, Agricultre and IPR graced the auspicious occasion as the Chief Guest in the presence of Shri. Karma R. Bonpo, DC West; Shri Tenzing Loden Lepcha, SP West; Shri. Karma Loday Lepcha, ADC West; Shri. Tushar G. Nikhare, SDM (HQ); Shri. R. N. Mishra, Commandant, 36th SSB; HoDs of Line Departments; Officials and various dignitaries.

Namchi, 26th January (IPR): The 71st Republic Day was celebrated with enthusiasm and patriotic fervor at the premises of Namchi District Administrative Centre, today. Organised by South District Administration, District Level Cultural Show in collaboration with Namchi Nehru Yuva Kendra (NYK) the occassion had the presence of Hon’ble Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation Departments Shri. B.S. Panth. Present amongst others were District Collector (South) Shri Ragul K, SP (South) Shri Prawin Gurung alongwith SDMs, HoDs, officals, police personnel, NYK members and staff of the district.

Gangtok, Jan 25: (IPR) Chief Minister Shri Prem Singh Tamang convened a co-ordination meeting with Power Department officials at Chintan Bhawan today.
The meeting had the presence and participation of Shri M.N Sherpa, Minister Power Department, along with Shri S.C Gupta, Chief Secretary, Shri VB Pathak, Additional Chief Secretary cum Dev Commissioner, DPER & NECAD, Shri AK Yadav, Additional Chief Secretary, Power Department, Shri A.B Rai, PCE cum Secretary, Power Department, Shri S.D Dhakal, Secretary, CMO and officials from Power Department.
The main purpose of the meeting was to review the response of engineers at various levels to the complaints of the public about the erratic power outages in the state, and also to assess the performance of the department in every aspect.
Recommending corrective actions, the Chief Minister assured all possible help and support to the Department but at the same time he added that the Department should be totally responsible for providing continuous power supply to the general public.
He added that Power Department is a business-oriented Department and hence Government will provide all necessary help to transform the Power Department into a revenue generating department.
The Chief Minister also provided suggestions for proper streamlining and ways to bring the department back on track. He added that the power department is a vital department and development of the state is impossible without the supply of power and electricity.
He also suggested for analysis on the maintenance incurred by the Department and sought early rectifications in all the discrepancies faced by the Department.
He further added that sense of responsibility should prevail among the politicians, officials and local public at large and urged the officials to sentimentally engage with public.
He directed the officials from the Power Department to put forth the ground realities before the Government in order to curb the power shortages in the state.
HCM suggested framing of proper rules and regulations by the department to achieve the targeted revenue and ensure timely revenue collection.
The Chief Minister also mentioned that all the pending land compensation will be paid in the coming days and directed the Department to collect all the necessary information regarding the same.

In conclusion, the Chief Minister specifically stressed on proper district wise outsourcing of personnel of all line departments in the state. He urged the department to work fearlessly for the state, and provide the necessary service to the public at any cost.
Earlier, Minister, Shri M.N Sherpa welcomed and thanked the Chief Minister for chairing the meeting despite of his busy schedule. In his address, the Minister stated that maintaining discipline and decorum within the department is of the outmost importance, therefore the Minister sought for collective responsibility among the staffs and employees for the smooth functioning of the department.
The Minister asked the officials from the Power Department to highlight and convey the information prior to power cuts before the public through various social media forums.
He also suggested for organising training and awareness programmes for the linesmen and meter readers of the department in order to gain more knowledge and acumen in their respective fields.
Speaking on the shortages of man power in the department, the Minister suggested for proper adjustment in the appointment system through proper deputation and utilization of the employees.
Further, he suggested for timely payments of increments among the field functionaries including linesmen and meter readers.
He also highlighted on taking safe precautionary measures to curb untoward accidents among the field functionaries.
The Minister suggested for 100% metering of all households and suggested for remedial measures to stop illegal connections in the state.
The Minister further directed the power officials to maintain and repair outdated stations and sub stations especially at rural area and added that it was the responsibility of power officials to deliver continuous power supply to the rural belts. He further sought necessary reports and information regarding all the power solar light installation in the state from the department.
The Minister also urged for proper interaction of top-level officials with the field functionaries on a regular basis for proper coordination among the employees in the department. He further sought report on all the pending and incomplete works under the civil section of the department.
He also suggested for maintaining proper records and exact figures of engineers, staffs and retiring field functionaries of the department.

Further, the Minister directed the officials to create more awareness regarding online bill payment to the public.
The Minister also suggested for proper relocation of sub stations by the roadside for suitable placements of sub stations and for proper storage facilities for equipment and tools.
Finally, he directed the concerned officials to submit all the reports regarding forest clearances despite it being a lengthy process.
Earlier, PCE cum Secretary Power Department Shri A.B Rai presented an overview of the Power Department and highlighted on the services provided by the department over the years. He also put forth agendas and grievances of the power department before the Chief Minister.
The second phase of the meeting witnessed an short open house interaction between the Minister and officials of the Power Department wherein all the matters and issues pertaining to the Power Department were discussed at length.

Mangan, January 25: (IPR) On the sixth day of “Beti Bachao Beti Padhao” celebration week, the District Task Force organised talk show on various issues pertaining to the girl child at district conference hall, Mangan today.

Additional Magistrate, North, Shri Surat Gurung attended the programme as the chief guest along with SDM, Mangan, Shri Karma Thupden Bhutia, SDM, Dzongu, Shri Tshering Norbhu Bhutia, Deputy Director, Education, North, Shri Sajan V. Sebestain, Dealing Officer/ BBBP, Shri Wangchuk Bhutia.

Gangtok, Jan 25: (IPR) The 10th National Voter’s Day with the theme of “Electoral Literacy for Stronger Democracy” was celebrated amid fervent patriotic devotion here at Conference Hall of Zilla Bhawan, East District, today.

The celebration was graced by Chief Electoral Officer, Sikkim, Shri R. Telang. He was accompanied by District Magistrate, East, Shri Raj Yadav, Special Secretary, Rural Development Department cum Roll Observer for Special Summary Revision, Shri Anil Raj Rai, Additional Secretary, Election Department, Smt Roshni Rai, Deputy Chief Electoral Officer, Shri Shyam Pradhan and Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Shri Hemant Rai. Also present in the programme were BLOs, EROs, AEROs, Zilla Panchayat members, students, principals and the new registered voters.

Gyalshing, 25th January 2020 (IPR): The 10th National Voter’s Day with the theme “Electoral Literacy for Stronger Democracy” was celebrated in a grandeur manner at Bhanu Shalig, Gyalshing, West Sikkim organised by the Office of the Chief Electoral. National Voters Day is observed on the 25th of January every year, a practice that was initiated in 2011 to enhance the participation of voter, especially the youth in the democratic process.
Shri. Karma R. Bonpo (DC West) was present to grace the program as the Chief Guest accompanied by the Shri. Karma L. Lepcha, ADC(West); Shri. Tushar G. Nikhare, SDM (HQ) and newly registered voters of Gyalshing.
The Chief Guest in his address gave an introduction to National Voter’s Day and expressed that National Voter’s Day is observed so that people rededicate themselves to their constitutional rights. He also pointed out that this day is observed not only to spread awareness with regard to the democratic right of voting but to encourage more young voters to take part in the electoral process as well as to honour the newly enrolled voters.
DC West also called upon every individual specially the newly enrolled voters to exercise their franchise and added that responsibility is essential in every citizen and appealed for maximum participation of people in future election. In his address highlighted the NVSP (National Voters’ Services Portal) and initiatives taken by the BLOs for purification process and empowering voters through various awareness programmes.
The Chief Guest administered the Voters Pledge to the participants and also gave away the token of EPIC to newly enrolled voters.

Mangan, January 25: (IPR) Election Department, North Sikkim celebrated the 10th National Voters Day on 25th January 2020 with the theme “Electoral Literacy for Stronger Democracy” at District Election Conference hall, Mangan. The programme was organised by the office of the chief electoral officer, Sikkim.

It may be recalled that the Election Commission of India was constituted on 25th January 1950. Thus 25th January every year is now observed as the National Voters Day.

Namchi, 25th January (IPR): On the occasion of 10th National Voters’ Day, the District Election Officer (DEO) cum District Collector (South) Shri. Ragul K administered the National Voters’ Day pledge at a celebration held at Namchi DAC Conference hall today.

The event also had the presence of SDM Namchi Shri. Agwane Rohan Ramesh, SDM (HQ) Shri Chiran Rizal alongwith with the officials and staff of Election Department, Booth Level Officers (BLOs) and newly enrolled young voters.