chamling himalaya
File image of Sikkim chief minister Pawan Chamling. Photo: Sagar Chhetri

Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Chamling said his government has performed โ€œfar betterโ€ than most other states despite โ€œlowโ€ funds flow from the Centre.

โ€œBeing a small state with a small population, we do not have a presence at the national level. The funds flow from the Central government is low as compared to the funds flow to bigger states, though the needs of our state are of equal magnitude.

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โ€œBut in-spite of such drawbacks, our Government has performed far better than most other states,โ€ he said during the 24th anniversary celebrations of the Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) government on Friday.

Appealing for a decentralised and democratised administrative system, he directed all the secretaries of various departments of the state government to submit proposals by the middle of next month regarding filling up of vacancies, giving promotions to employees and regularising ad-hoc staff.

Chamling, the countryโ€™s longest serving Chief Minister, announced a reduction in the qualifying period for promotion for group C and D employees to five years.

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Also, employees working in the Group C and D grade in the state government for five years and above will be regularised.

The government will grant six months maternity leave to all female employees, he added.

โ€œI have directed all the secretaries/HoDs to submit proposals on the above announcements by January 15, 2019, and these decisions should be implemented by January 31, 2019,โ€ Chamling said.

Chamling said various pending political demands have been โ€œfulfilledโ€ and overall his government โ€œmanaged to bring about all-round progress and development, perhaps not seen anywhere elseโ€.

โ€œThere is peace and security prevailing in our state. Our government employees can live with dignity and respect without any kind of fear of extortion or threats whatsoever,โ€ he added.