'Sikkim Progressive Youth Forum' Demands "Pro-People Budget" from Govt

Gangtok, March 3, 2020:

Demanding the Government to implement a "pro-people budget", the Sikkim Progressive Youth Forum has listed a set of concerns that it has suggested the Government to look into and address during the upcoming budget.

The SPYF has lamented that people from all nooks and corners of the state have to rush to the New STNM Hospital, even for diagnosis of simple diseases. The condition of the PHSCs, PHCs, CHCs and district hospitals are pathetic, with majority of it failing to provide even the most basic drug like paracetamol.

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"We feel that the govt. should allocate sufficient fund specifically to meet the IPHS standards at all the hospitals of the state. Further, funds should be allocated to provide free medicines and tests in the hospitals", the SPYF has said.

Pointing out that the quality of the education in the govt. schools is degrading every day, the organization also rued the lack of sufficient teachers. "Schools are being closed with the excuse of less enrollment. Majority of the Schools lack proper laboratory, library including other infrastructures. The situation of higher education is more worrisome", the SPYF said.

The SPYF advised that the coming budget should give a special focus to education and must allocate funds to address all the mentioned concerns properly. The construction of all the campuses should be completed within financial year 2020-21. Further, free bus facilities in all government senior secondary schools and colleges should also be ensured.

The SPYF also stated that the Government should give necessary attention in the budget to ensure that all the roads in the state are properly pitched.

Further, keeping in mind the number of people coming to and from the capital town, the Government should run sufficient SNT buses from all major towns and bazaars to the capital. The students have to invest a high proportion of their money in transportation, thus they must be ensured free bus facilities in the city runners.

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The SPYF also stated that in accordance with the directions of Supreme Court of India, and the seventh pay commission, the govt. must ensure a minimum of Rs. 18,000 per month salary for the workers. Further, medical reimbursement facilities must be extended to MR and contractual laborers including PWD workers.

The SPYF also stated that provisions must be made along with the necessary budget allocation to ensure proper and scientific disposal of sewage and garbage. There are many other problems which requires proper allocation of budgets.

"Affordable and quality health and education, good roads with sufficient transportation arrangement, minimum wage of Rs.18,000 pm are the things that are necessary for minimum standard of living in the twenty first century", the SPYF states.

The SPYF has urged the Government of Sikkim to give necessary attention to all these burning problems of the peoples lives and through the ensuing budget gives them the relief they deserve.

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