The Janta Mela for urban areas and monks of the entire state of Sikkim was held on Saturday at Khel Gaon in Reshithang of Gangtok’s Ranka.
It was clubbed with the final leg of the Jan Sampark-cum-Jan Seva Abhiyan of Chief Minister Pawan Chamling for the east district of Sikkim for three constituencies namely Gangtok, Arithang and Upper Tadong along with the Sangha constituency.
The public event was organized by Urban Development & Housing department in coordination with the area MLAs and nagar panchayats.
The programme began with welcome address by UDHD secretary L B Chettri, who briefly explained the objective of the programme and the nature of benefits and token grants to be distributed.
Chief Minister Pawan Chamling then handed over the token benefits to beneficiaries from among the monks and the people of urban areas from different parts of the State.
The benefits that were distributed on the occasion included token allotment for urban housing scheme, GCI sheets, electric rice cooker, plain sheets as part of Urban Housing Scheme, and House Enhancement Scheme Order.
Likewise, subsidized rice was distributed to beneficiaries under other priority households under Food & Civil Supplies department, while CMRHM, LPG, pressure cooker and GCI sheets were the items under the Rural Management & Development department which were distributed on the occasion.
Meanwhile, seven employees of the municipal bodies from all the four districts were rewarded by the Chief Minister with cash award and mementos for rendering sincere and excellent service in their capacities.
The Chief Minister was felicitated by a delegation of monks with an appreciation letter.
Likewise, the representatives of Urban Local Bodies, members of the business community, ASHA workers and Aganwadi Workers also expressed felicitation to the Chief Minister.
Addressing the public event, Chief Minister Pawan Chamling said he was pleased to meet the learned monks from throughout the State and also the business community and public from the urban areas.
He began his address by highlighting the objective of the Jan Sampark-Jan Seva Abhiyan and the Janta Mela.
He said that the entire government machinery had come to the people’s doorstep to honour them, to understand their problems and issues, and to provide immediate respite.
It is a rare initiative where the entire government machinery stretches out to the public with welfare schemes in order to uplift the people and to improve their living standards, he stated.
He added that the constituency-wise visit of the Chief Minister and the entire team of public representatives and heads of departments also served as a medium to directly interact with the people and enlighten them about the various schemes and programmes of the government.
