Sikkim performed better than other states despite low funds flow from Centre: CM

Gangtok, Dec 29 : Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Chamling said his government has performed "far better" than most other states despite "low" funds flow from the Centre.

"Being a small state with a small population, we do not have a presence at the national level. The funds flow from the Central government is low as compared to the fund's flow to bigger states, though the needs of our state are of equal magnitude.

"But in spite of such drawbacks, our Government has performed far better than most other states," he said during the 24th-anniversary celebrations of the Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) government on Friday.

Appealing for a decentralised and democratised administrative system, he directed all the secretaries of various departments of the state government to submit proposals by the middle of next month regarding filling up of vacancies, giving promotions to employees and regularising ad-hoc staff.

Chamling, the country's longest serving Chief Minister, announced a reduction in the qualifying period for promotion for group C and D employees to five years.

Also, employees working in the Group C and D grade in the state government for five years and above will be regularised.

The government will grant six months maternity leave to all female employees, he added.

"I have directed all the secretaries/HoDs to submit proposals on the above announcements by January 15, 2019, and these decisions should be implemented by January 31, 2019," Chamling said.

Chamling said various pending political demands have been "fulfilled" and overall his government "managed to bring about all-round progress and development, perhaps not seen anywhere else".

"There is peace and security prevailing in our state. Our government employees can live with dignity and respect without any kind of fear of extortion or threats whatsoever," he added.