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Last Update: Friday, May 02, 2025 16:52 [IST]
Introduction
Setting the Scene for Democratic
Governance in Sikkim
Democracy encompasses more than just the
electoral process; it also involves a continuous dedication to socio-economic
justice, participatory governance, and public welfare. It is necessary to
assess the SKM government's initiatives within this framework.
1.
The spirit of democracy and electoral
optimism
It
is important to distinguish democratic
optimism from authoritarian
arrogance.
Political
theorists such as Giovanni Sartori
and Robert Dahl argue that
democratic leaders often project confidence in future mandates as a way of
energizing their political base and reinforcing their accountability promises
([Dahl, "On Democracy," 1998]).
? CM Golay's comments regarding electoral success are not an attempt to influence elections; rather, they demonstrate confidence in the results of governance.
? Citizens’ sovereignty remains
intact, guaranteed through free and fair elections administered under the Election Commission of India, a
constitutional authority under Article 324.
Thus,
claims of “undemocratic behavior” are theoretically
misplaced and factually unsupported.
2.
Employment Regularization Policy 2024:
Foundational Ethical and Constitutional Framework
The
Regularisation Policy 2024,
announced after multi-stakeholder
consultations and careful administrative planning, fulfills key
constitutional promises:
? Article
14: Ensures equality before
law—temporary workers with prolonged service are regularized on merit.
? Article
16: Provides equal opportunity in
public employment.
? Article
38 and 41: Mandate
the State to promote welfare and secure the right to work.
Key
features:
? Reduction of regularisation
eligibility from 8 to 4 years ([Sikkim Government White Paper, 2024]).
? Coverage extended to vulnerable
categories such as ICDS workers and ASHA volunteers.
Comparative Example: The Delhi
government under Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal (regularization of guest
teachers) and the Tamil Nadu government (Anganwadi Workers, 2023) both made
similar regularization efforts, demonstrating that employment welfare is a
valid and democratic endeavor rather than a political ploy.
3.
How Policies Address Socio-economic
Needs
Sikkim,
being a small Himalayan state with limited private sector opportunities,
naturally depends on public sector employment as an economic driver.
Ignoring the precarious conditions of
long-serving workers would have been an
abdication of the State’s social responsibility.
The
Regularisation Policy therefore:
? Secures livelihoods for over 20,000 families.
? Reduces socio-economic insecurity.
? Promotes dignity of labor—aligning
with Article 43 (Living Wage for
workers).
Instead
of "master-slave mentality," the policy empowers citizens by giving them formal recognition, and job security.
Criticism
that regularization is a pre-election tactic ignores two crucial facts:
? The process began in 2022-2023 during departmental meetings
and employee forums.
? The Regularisation Policy was part
of SKM's 2019 manifesto, showing policy
continuity rather than electoral opportunism.
? Employee Unions, Panchayat leaders,
and departmental heads were consulted ([Government White Paper 2024, Ch. 3]).
In
mature democracies, governments do not cease
policy actions four years before elections for fear of criticism.
Such an expectation would itself be
undemocratic.
5.
More Comprehensive Democratic Changes
Under the SKM Administration
? In addition to job creation, the SKM
government has carried out extensive reforms that uphold constitutional
principles:
? Right
to Information Strengthening (2023): Setting up fast-track RTI cells across departments.
? Education: Expansion of Smart Schools.
? Health
Infrastructure:
Doubling the number of Primary Health Centres (PHCs) and launching free
diagnostic initiatives.
? Women
and Child Development:
Launch of Mero Sapana scheme
empowering single mothers and orphaned youth.
Each
of these initiatives fulfills the core democratic principle: empowerment through public services.
6. The Path Forward: Democratic
Maturity
In
a healthy democracy, leaders frequently forecast election success with
confidence. Such expressions are neither unconstitutional nor authoritarian.
They reflect political vitality and faith in the people’s judgment. As
political scientists such as Robert Dahl and Giovanni Sartori highlight,
democratic processes thrive on political contestation and participation, not on
the suppression of political dialogue ([Dahl, On Democracy, 1998]).
Critics
must recognize that:
? Under India's constitutional framework, the right of citizens to vote is upheld, and free and fair elections are ensured by the Election Commission of India.
? Premature
accusations of democratic decay, based solely on political confidence statements, risk
trivializing the very spirit of political freedom.
Policies
designed to secure socio-economic rights and dignified employment are
legitimate tools of democratic governance, particularly in emerging economies
where public sector jobs remain a critical component of livelihood.
Historical comparisons reveal that similar welfare
policies — like Delhi’s regularisation of guest teachers, or Tamil Nadu’s
formalization of Anganwadi workers — have been integral to welfare-state models
across India. These were not condemned as "slave-master mentalities,"
but rather understood as efforts to rectify structural inequalities and promote
economic justice.
The
Sikkim government’s Regularisation
Policy 2024, developed after multi-stakeholder consultations, directly
upholds:
? Article
14 (Equality before Law),
? Article
16 (Equal opportunity in public employment),
? Directive
Principles of State Policy
— particularly Articles 38, 41, and 43,
which obligate the State to promote welfare and ensure the right to work.
Alignment with Constitutional
Mandates
The
policy aligns with the Directive Principles of State Policy enshrined in the
Constitution of India, particularly Article 39, which emphasizes securing the
right to adequate means of livelihood for all citizens. By transitioning
temporary workers to regular employment status, the policy seeks to provide job
security and equitable working conditions, thereby upholding the constitutional
commitment to social and economic justice.
In
this light, the policy is not an
electoral bait, but a manifestation
of constitutional duty and governance continuity.
Final Thoughts: Supporting the
Constitutional Course
Under
the direction of Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang, the SKM Government is unwavering
in its commitment to the constitution, making sure that democratic governance
is not relegated to empty rhetoric but rather is implemented into real policies
that improve society.
The
principles that define the Indian Constitution — Justice, Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity — are not merely
ornamental slogans, but actionable mandates that require the government to
address socio-economic vulnerabilities, especially in small Himalayan states
like Sikkim.
In
a democracy:
? Electoral
competition
must coexist with policy activism.
? Political
optimism must be
interpreted as trust in people's
judgment, not a denial of democratic choice.
? Employment
regularisation and welfare measures must be evaluated within the constitutional imperative of
securing economic justice, not through the narrow prism of political
expediency.
Democracy
does not demand the suspension of governance four years before an election; it
demands governance that is accountable, inclusive, and transparent.
The citizenry of Sikkim — politically
mature and historically discerning — will, as always, exercise their sovereign
right with wisdom and responsibility.
Going
forward, it is essential for anyone to:
? Foster fact-based democratic debate,
? Promote critical but constructive engagement, and
? Uphold constitutional patriotism over partisan interpretations.
In
a democracy, criticism of the government is both necessary and welcome.
However, such criticism must be:
? Factually grounded,
? Constitutionally reasoned,
? Aimed at enhancing public debate,
not polarizing it.
Democracy is not only preserved by
rhetoric but strengthened by action.
CM Prem Singh Tamang’s policies are consistent with constitutional mandates,
promote citizen welfare, and enhance economic self-reliance.
Evaluation should be not through the
lens of political cynicism but through empirical evidence, government white
papers, and ground realities.
The people of Sikkim will,
as always, exercise their sovereign right to choose — informed, empowered, and
free.
(E-mail:
gauravsubba28@gmail.com)
