SPYF Sikkim Progressive Youth Forum while speaking at a press meet says “Our natural resources like trees and rivers are under more threat from Forest department and State government itself than the people.”
The SPYF members alleged that aggressive exploitation of natural resources through quarrying and tree felling is taking place across Sikkim.
“Similar exploitation used to happen during the previous government where JCBs were placed on the rivers to extract sand and stones.
The present government has simply intensified this aggressive exploitation which will benefit only a few businessmen and companies from outside the State. The masses are not benefiting, rather they are suffering due to environmental degradation in their places,” said the SPYF members.
SPYF members Sagar Sharma, Sankar Sharma, Rupen Karki and Lekhak Sharma were addressing the media at Journalists Union of Sikkim office here.
“Due to rampant quarrying wherein JCBs are extracting stones and sand recklessly from our rivers, the course of the rivers is changing as seen in the Rorathang sand mining case.
The change in course of rivers is very dangerous and poses a huge risk to those settled near the rivers. Sikkim of tomorrow cannot be put at stake for benefit of few,” said the SPYF members. The SPYF members demanded the State government to cancel permits given for mechanized quarrying.
“Rivers are our natural resources and belong to the people of Sikkim. Our rivers cannot be allowed to be exploited in such an unsustainable manner for the benefit of outsiders and businessmen.
Only a handful of businessmen and companies are benefiting from so-called developmental activities while there is nothing for the masses. This must be brought to an end,” they said.
At the press meet, the SPYF members further alleged that rampant felling of trees are taking place in different parts of Sikkim. They demanded the Forest department to maintain transparency as to why trees are being felled and for what purpose.
“The government is not transparent on tree felling. The public is not being informed for what purpose such tree felling is going on and as such, doubts and questions from public will come.
Where is the revenue going by selling our natural resources? The department must clarify to the public,” said the SPYF members.
At the moment, it appears that there is a threat to our trees and rivers from the Forest department and State government itself, said the SPYF members.
SPYF Asks To Not Make Lame Excuses on Students’ Future:
The Sikkim Progressive Youth Forum (SPYF) maintained that the State government cannot make “lame excuses” for the inordinate delay in appointing teachers which, the forum said, is compromising the Sikkim students’ future.
“To say pandemic and festive season created hurdles in conducting interviews for teachers in government schools is a lame excuse by the State government. We recall the government saying that after festive season in October last year, they will go ahead with the interview process every day barring Sundays.
Yet, it is evident the government still has not completed the interview process and has not declared the results. The government cannot make excuses on matters related with students’ future and education,” said SPYF members at the press meet here.
“We have been talking about shortage of teachers for a long time and communicated with the State government three times last year. Schools have reopened but still teachers are yet to be appointed. The government had talked big last October of completing the interview and appointment process within two months.
Now we were in second week of February but still the results of teachers’ interview have not been announced and students are going to classes that have no teachers” they added.
“Why so much negligence? The government should immediately declare the results and depute the teachers to the schools so that classes can function properly. The CBSE board exams are taking place in April. This is must be taken up seriously,” said the SPYF members.
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