Chamling promises Govt jobs to every unemployed Sikkim youth

GANGTOK,: Former Chief Minister Pawan Chamling has promised government employment to every educated unemployed youth in Sikkim if the Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) is voted back to power.

“We will make a law that ensures a government job to every educated unemployed youth in the 19-40 age group. We will implement an Employment Act in the State,” said Chamling.

Chamling, who is also the SDF president, was addressing party workers after observing the party's flagship annual green initiative, 'Ten Minutes to Earth', on June 25 at Sumick Lingzey in the Khamdong-Singtam constituency, a SDF press release said.

The former Chief Minister also promised to allocate 70% of the State's annual budget to rural areas of Sikkim and implement the Sikkim Well-Being Economic Policy if the SDF returns to power.

Among his other promises were a monthly grant of Rs. 20,000 for farmers, a minimum monthly salary of Rs. 30,000 for Sikkimese workers employed in any industry in the State, and a monthly salary of Rs. 50,000 for casual government employees.

Chamling and party workers also planted saplings to mark the 'Ten Minutes to Earth' programme, an annual environmental initiative of the SDF since 2009.

In his address, Chamling highlighted several landmark environmental programmes undertaken during the SDF's 25-year rule in Sikkim, the party release said.

It was in 2003 that we resolved in the Assembly to make Sikkim an Organic State, and Sikkim became the country's first Organic State in December 2015, reminded the former Chief Minister. He also asserted that the SDF government had developed earthquake-resistant infrastructure across the State.

“However, the present condition of Sikkim reminds me of Hiroshima, which was devastated by the 'Little Boy' atomic bomb in 1945. Just as 'Little Boy' devastated Hiroshima, the present Chief Minister has also left Sikkim in utter ruins,” Chamling alleged.