Namchi: 22.Feb.2018 When the organic mission of Sikkim has highlighted the State in the national and international platform Bhim Bahadur Gurung resident of Lower Sadam, South Sikkim a farmer by profession has a different story to share. Bhim Bahadur Gurung aged 68 years is a senior citizen who has worked as panchayat of his area for two decades, and in that duration he was the Panchayat President for three terms in Sadam Suntaley Gram Panchayat Unit. Apart from that, those days he used to do farming also and presently he is a farmer by profession.
As per Bhim Bahadur Gurung one week earlier he went to horticulture department in Namchi to meet the concerned Horticulture Development Officer (HDO) of his area to inquire about the seedlings which was supposed to be distributed to the farmers as he had not received the seedlings but he did not meet the official. Again on February 20 afternoon (2:30 pm) he went to the same office located in Kazitar Namchi with the hope that he will meet the concerned HDO there but to his dismay that day too he could not meet the official. Later Bhim Bahadur Gurung tried to contact him through a phone call but did not receive proper response. Fed up with the repeated failure to contact the concerned official (HDO)with whom he wanted to share the grievance of his area Bhim Bahadur Gurung expressed his grievances with SE where he mentions that the HDO of Sadam Suntaley Gram Panchayat Unit is not known by the farmers of his area as he has not visited the area under him nor has he interacted with the farmers about their problems. Keeping in mind the problems being faced by farmers of his area he informed that instead of the HDO visiting the area and distributing the seedling to the farmers, the recent seedling distribution was not done by him but was reportedly distributed by the panchayats resulting which it did not end up reaching the farmers who actually needed the seedlings, also that the seedlings were carelessly distributed. Mentioning that the HDO too is not seen in the village till now, the complainant Bhim Bahadur Gurung further questioned as to how the organic mission will be successful in the state in the days to come if the work in the field and grassroot level mostly covering the rural areas is inefficient and zero. "The talks and propaganda on organic mission is huge but is practically zero" stated Bhim Bahadur Gurung who despite of being incapable of walking properly due to problems with his knee visited the office in Namchi from Sadam Suntaley more than once just with the hope that he would get the seedlings.
The complainant further added saying that the officials are expected to be available for the public during office/working hours i.e. from 10am to 4pm as they are given salary by the government for serving the people but they are found in the office mostly after 11am and that too till 2:30pm to 3pm only. He termed this as the administrative flaw and weakness due to which the public at large will be the sufferer in many aspects, as a concerned citizen Bhim Bahadur Gurung has appealed and demanded for strict reformation in this matter so that the system becomes pro people. Bhim Bahadur Gurung stated "as an ardent supporter of Sikkim Organic Mission I felt that it is my responsibility to share the problems being faced by rural people and farmers, as I am one among them". Thinking of the possibility that he might fall prey to some predicament due to the complaints he has made, or that he might be termed as a supporter of some opposition party Bhim Bahadur Gurung clearly informed that he is the member of Central Executive Committee of the ruling front and also the president of Sadam Suntaley Gram Panchayat Unit of the ruling front. "If concerned officials further wants to inquire on the complaints I have made then they can have a table talk with me on this matter" concluded Bhim Bahadur Gurung with a hope that positive steps will be taken.
Courtesy :- Sikkim Express
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