The one-day session of Sikkim Legislative Assembly held yesterday passed the 2nd Supplementary Demands for Grants for 2020-21, along with two Amendment Bills. The House also adopted the Government Resolution for the inclusion of all left out Communities of Sikkim as Scheduled Tribes.
During the financial business, Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang, also the Minister-in-Charge of Finance Department, Government of Sikkim, presented the Second Supplementary Demands for Grants relating to the Financial Year 2020-21.
The Second Supplementary Demands for Grants for 2020-21 includes 15 grants, which includes a gross additional expenditure of Rs. 50347.07 lakh comprising of Rs. 15772.03 lakh on Revenue Account and Rs. 34575.04 lakh on Capital Account. The Second Supplementary Demands for Grants for 2020-21 was put to vote and was passed by the House.
Likewise, the Sikkim Appropriation Bill, for the Second Supplementary Demands for Grants for the financial year 2021 was also introduced by the Chief Minister which was passed by the House.
The House also adopted the Government Resolution 2021 seeking inclusion of remaining left out communities of Sikkim as Scheduled Tribe which was proposed by Minister for Social Justice & Welfare Department Dr. M. K. Sharma. The Resolution was seconded by Member Sonam T. Venchungpa, where he stated that the Resolution was a reflection of the inclusiveness, sincerity and commitment of the Government towards the people of Sikkim.
The discussion on the Government Resolution was also participated by Members Shri. D. R. Thapa, Tashi Thendup Bhutia and Aditya Golay, where they whole heartedly supported the resolution.
CM Tamang in the discussion of the Government Resolution 2021 spoke on the legitimacy of the long pending demand of the state of Sikkim. He further expressed his gratitude to the House for their positive response and whole-hearted support for the resolution. He also provided a historical perspective on the status of the “Hill Tribe” communities citing the census of 1931 and 1941.
During the Legislative Business, two Amendment Bills were introduced and passed by the House. The Minister for Rural Development Department Sonam Lama introduced the Sikkim Panchayat (Amendment) Bill, 2021, Bill No 2 of 2021 and Minister for Commerce and Industries Department Bedu Singh Panth introduced the Sikkim Industries Licensing (Amendment) Bill, 2021 Bill No 3 of 2021.
The statement of objects and reasons of the Sikkim Panchayat (Amendment) Bill, 2021, Bill No 2 of 2021 is to bring in parity the function of the Gram Panchayat in special circumstances of emergency situations, wherein powers are vested in the Administrative Heads to coordinate and take decisions for grant and sanction of benefits to the beneficiaries selected by the Committee.
The statement and objects and reasons of the Sikkim Industries Licensing (Amendment) Bill, 2021 Bill No 3 of 2021 states that it is felt expedient to amend the Sikkim Industries Licensing Act, 1982 to enhance the amount of license fee as per the investment of the Industrial units in their plant and machinery in the interest of the industrial development of the State.
