SDF party manifesto launched

PRESS RELEASE

Pawan Chamling embarks on 10-day long Sikkim Vijay Sankalp Rally

Pawan Chamling promises to institute a youth forum to make youth equal partners in policy making.

, 29^th March: Pawan Chamling embarked on a 10-day long Sikkim Vijay Sankalp Rally today, starting with Soreng in . In in Soreng he addressed a crowd of 15,000, where people from neighbouring constituencies of West Sikkim joined in. The event was widely streamed and about 3 lakh people tuned in on social media.

The Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) party manifesto for the upcoming elections was launched by Pawan Chamling, the party president during the event, which he dedicated to the people of Sikkim. He called it a “futuristic, youth-centric document which addresses problems of the present and the future”.

Addressing the public, he said that, “Our policy is youth first. We will institute a Youth Forum in order to make youth equal partners in policy making.” He further added that the jobs received under will also be regularised and that, “our government will launch a scheme ‘’ whereby every eligible individual will be helped with a profession”.

He mentioned a few other key promises from the election manifesto. These included providing cash assistance of Rs. 60,000 to and financially poor families and provision of agricultural implements of Rs. 40,000, increasing to Rs. 400, providing ex-gratia of Rs 7 lakh to drivers’ family on accidental death, regularising who have served for 16 years, establishing hostels for , increase of pension for unmarried women to Rs 3000, providing Rs. 10,000 allowance to practicing advocates, connecting the four districts of Sikkim via underground roads and regularising the workers under PSUs such as MGNREGA, SICB, NHM, etc.

Once again, he affirmed that the SDF government will be implementing a Universal Basic Income scheme which will provide all citizens with financial security. He added that this is driven by the party’s youth-centric agenda and is aimed at empowering the youth through economic stability.

He urged the people to vote for SDF, saying that “I’m contesting this election so that I can handover the state to good leaders who can take Sikkim to greater heights. My politics is for Sikkim and the Sikkimese people”.

The election manifesto was made after extensive consultation with the people of Sikkim, eminent stakeholders and experts. Through two digital campaigns ‘#MyFirstVote4Chamling’ and ‘Ma Pani Chamling’, citizens sent in sent their ideas for the development of the state. More than 80,000 responses were received in this manner. These ideas have been incorporated in the election manifesto making citizens active partners in setting the developmental agenda; this has become the largest participative agenda setting exercise in Sikkim’s history.

During the Sikkim Vijay Sankalp Rally, Pawan Chamling will be addressing the public in , , , Rorathang, Kabi, Ravangla, Geyzing, Mining, Rangpo and Jorethang.

The election to the 32-member Sikkim Assembly is being held on 11th April alongside the .

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