Gangtok, 17th July: On the 25th day of the village to village tour on 16th July, the Chief Minister while talking about his Friday’s declaration of allotting the contractual work upto the value of Rs. 2 Crore to the cooperative societies asked the government officials specially dealing with the contractual works to deal with cooperative societies at par with the other contractors. It has been learned that certain departments are not giving adequate justice and equality to the cooperative societies and it should be strictly avoided, the Chief Minister categorically stated.

The cooperative society should be treated equally, he added. Cooperatives have been encouraged in contractual work in the state in order to give opportunity in contractual work to the rural people and to do away with middlemen in such works, the Chief Minister said. In this context the Chief Minister also directed the Public Works
Department to fix the rate of engaging Backhoe (Dozer) in such works as the few dozer owners who are the elite class in the society are having monopoly over this trade, exploiting the cooperative society and are taking major profit from the contractual work in the name of engaging dozers which is without a fix rate. This is having a negative impact on our policy which is aimed at economic upliftment of the rural poor, the Chief Minister added.

The Chief Minister at Sakewa Bazar, Martam laid the foundation stone of Kishan Bazar and the office building of Block Administrative Centre, Martam. He also inaugurated the BAC, Martam at a rented building. Talking about the importance of Kishan Bazar in future the Chief Minister said that the concept of Kishan Bazar has been to develop this area as a centre for accumulating and marketing of the organic products of the state. The state government is in the process of getting organic certification for the agriculture and allied products of the state. In this way the organic products accumulated in the Kishan Bazar can be marketed nationally and internationally.

The organic products will be in huge demand nationally and internationally and will fetch good price for the farmers, the Chief Minister said. At Dipudara the Chief Minister inaugurated a six room school building of Dipudara Primary School constructed by NHPC.

During the day long tour the Chief Minister addressed the public at Sakewa Bazar, Martam; Sang Sr. Sec. School; Sakyong Namgethang JHS and Sonamati Memorial Govt SSS, Khamdong.

(Courtesy: Sikkim Mail)

 

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