Gangtok, December 23 (IPR):
Ms Kala Rai, Area MLA, Burtuk cum Advisor, Rural Development Department(RDD) chaired the Second District Planning Committee meeting at the conference hall of Gangtok District Zilla Panchayat (GDZP) Bhawan at Sichey, today.
Organised by GDZP, the meeting had the presence of Mr Balaram Adhikari Zilla Adhyaksha Gangtok cum Chairman District Planning Committee (DPC), Ms Devi Maya Pradhan Zilla Upadhyaksha Gangtok, Mr Tushar Nikhare District Collector cum Sachiva (DPC) Gangtok, Zilla Panchayat Members, Mr Sandeep Kumar, Assistant Collector Gangtok, Mr Sonam Gyatso Bhutia DPO, Zilla DEs, AEs, JEs (RDD), along with the officers and staff of GDZP.
The first District Planning Committee Meeting was held on February 15, 2024.
Mr Sonam Gyatso Bhutia, DPO commenced the meeting with a formal welcome to the members of the Committee.
After that, he laid down the plan's proposal in the PowerPoint presentation wherein the chair was appraised about the :
a) 5th State Finance Commission, SFC (2024-2025) 1st Installment Share
b) 5th SFC (2024-2025) 2nd Installment Share
c) 5th SFC (2024-2025) 3rd Installment Share
d) 5th SFC (2024-2025) 4th Installment Share
e) Gangtok District Zilla Panchayat Fund
The presentation was on the 5th State Finance Commission (SFC) and 15th FC Tied/Untied Funds, 2023-2024 about various public welfare works to be initiated by the Committee. Plans and proposals regarding various public welfare schemes were also placed in the meeting and resolutions were passed.
Following the presentation the meeting had an open house discussion where various issues were deliberated upon.
Ms Kala Rai expressed satisfaction with the progress of developmental works funded by the Zilla Panchayat. She underscored the vital role of Zilla Panchayat members in planning growth initiatives and ensuring accountability in addressing community needs. She emphasised the importance of verifying that completed projects are operational and beneficial to the public. She urged committee members to prioritize transparency, efficient resource utilization, and sustainable fund management to address the genuine needs of the people.She highlighted articulating local needs and ensuring the efficient use of local resources with greater transparency.
Mr Balaram Adhikari, Zilla Adhyaksha and the Chairman District Planning Committee, DPC, highlighted the roles and responsibilities of Zilla members and called for necessary coordination between the Zilla members and government officials while executing public welfare works and schemes in the district. He urged the officials to maintain comprehensive documentation of all work activities and to establish feedback mechanisms to gather community input on the effectiveness of the project. He further insisted on office visits of the Zilla members to create transparent mechanisms for information exchanges.
Mr Tushar Nikhare, DC Gangtok cum Sachiva, emphasised that before awarding the projects, it is essential to ensure contractors commit to both construction and long-term maintenance. He also advised prioritising cost-saving measures and redirecting funds towards awareness campaigns targeting students and youth in the community.
He said that ensuring the long-term sustainability of infrastructure developments with the maximum source utilisation is crucial. He emphasised the importance of utilising funds responsibly and members must oversee completed projects to ensure they remain operational and well-maintained. Highlighting the need for teamwork, he stressed the importance of coordination between members and officers for effective implementation. He also urged the promotion of awareness campaigns and encouraged collaboration with entrepreneurs to organise skill development activities.
He took the forum to raise concern over rising instances of drug abuse. He stressed on collective effort to be made by Zilla Members and government officials in counselling the youth and students. “Engage young people in constructive activities after school, such as gym sessions, sports, library programmes, Zumba, and dance classes,” he added. Lastly, he said to work for the betterment of the community and future generations calling for collective efforts to create a positive and lasting impact.
During the meeting, several valuable suggestions were put forward by the dignataries. It was emphasised that a technical report should be submitted prior to finalising work proposals. The establishment of committee members and a succession board was also recommended.
The discussion further progressed to include the preparation of monthly progress reports and an Old Source of Revenue from next year to fix the accountability which will include the preparation of monthly progress reports.
The meeting concluded with vote of thanks proposed by Mr Dupgyal Lepcha, Zilla Panchayat Member Rey-Rumtek.