Friday, February 1, 2013

We are not goons or drug addicts, counter Golay’s youth supporters

GANGTOK, 30 Jan: The youth wing of the soon to be launched political outfit of dissident SDF MLA, PS Tamang [Golay], addressed media persons today for the first time. “We have come out openly to change the system and bring about good governance in the state,” said youth supporters of the dissident MLA at a press conference. The new party is slated to be launched on 04 February at Singling, Soreong in West Sikkim.
Members of the youth wing strongly condemned being branded as “Golay’s goons, robbers and drug addicts”. “The state government has become outdated and there is a need for new age leaders”, said Bhanu Rasaily during the press meet today.
He alleged that the ruling government has created divisions in the society making people isolated, weak and uncreative. He further alleged that the government has destroyed the entrepreneurship spirit of the youth by creating obstacles along the way. 
“The state has numerous hydel projects and pharma companies but the healthcare system in the state is pathetic and local people still need to go out for treatment. The government does not have any long term plans and does not offer enough support for entrepreneurship,” Mr Rasaily further alleged.
“It is high time that the youth came out and worked together to bring change,” added Arthur Targain of Gangtok, contending that the youth have now finally come out to bring this change for the state and its people.
Another youth wing member, Shakti Prasad Adhikari of Chujachen alleged that despite the presence of hydel projects and industries, the youth are still unemployed and remain neglected by the government. “Due to the lack of opportunities frustration is high among the youth, which is also leading them towards drug addiction,” he claimed.
Mr Adhikari alleged that the government is misleading the youth with ad hoc jobs and demanded that vacancies in the state government be filled with permanent service and not temporary ones.
“Although the policies and programmes of the ruling government are good on paper, in reality nothing has been happening. Even when a youth wants to take an initiative, their projects are rejected by the authorities concerned,” alleged T Wangyal, also of Gangtok. An environment of fear prevails in the state where people are made to feel like outcasts if they are not with the ruling party, he added.
Zigmee Bhutia of Gangtok in turn explained that the youth wing of the upcoming political party will work both as a political organization as well as a social one especially focusing on issues of the youth. “If the government was serious about its work, it should have solved the problems of drug addiction and unemployment in the state by now”, he alleged.
Pawan Parsai of Ranipool, speaking on unemployment, alleged that the skill development programmes being conducted are on irrelevant subjects which are useless for the youth of the state.
“Development should result in employment generation and revenue for the state but in Sikkim nothing of the sort is happening”, alleged Tilak Basnet of Melli. He went on to allege that victimization and political pressure on government employees is hampering the proper functioning of the state administration.
The press conference today was also addressed by Junu Chettri of Namcheybong.

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