Sikkim assembly session concludes

The second session of the ninth Assembly concluded today with the passage of the Vote on Account 2015-16.
The Vote on Account was tabled by Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Chamling, who is also the minister-in-charge for Finance, Revenue and Expenditure Department, on the first day.
To a question by a Member about revenue expenditure exceeding the capital expenditure, the Chief Minister explained that Sikkim is a welfare state where the government provides for the basic minimum needs like food, medicine and education of the people and private presence is negligible.
He said a major portion of the government revenue is spent on paying salaries, wages, pensions and other allowances.

The Chief Minister stated the government will not take up any new project till the existing development schemes are completed.
He added the government is committed to put the entire state on the development map and cited examples of infrastructure being created by the state in every constituency.

The House also passed the Sikkim Municipalities (Amendment) Bill, introduced by the Minister Urban Development and Housing Department N K Subba on the first day.
The Chief Minister, who is also the Leader of the House, stated that the Constitution of India underlines provisions for the processes involved in holding Municipal elections. Hence, all activities with regard to this has to be as per the provisions laid in the Constitution.

Speaking on the issue of Residential Certificates to old settlers, the Chief Minister explained about the prospective beneficiaries and their entitlements.
Responding to a suggestion by a Member of the House regarding allocation of Area Development Fund to all Members of Legislative Assembly, the Chief Minister said the government would take this up in near future.
The Chief Minister presented the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India on state Finances for the year ended March 31, 2014 and the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India on Social, Economic, Revenue and General sectors for the year ended March 2014 of the Sikkim government.

The Speaker K N Rai also announced the presentation of Annual Report of the Commissions and Government Departments.