GYALSHING: Under the direction of Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang, the Minister for Tourism & Civil Aviation and Commerce & Industries Department, and also the area MLA (Yuksam-Tashiding constituency) Tshering T Bhutia, undertook an outreach initiative to the remote Mangder village under Yuksam-Tashiding constituency in Gyalshing district on Tuesday.
The visit aimed to assess grassroots developmental needs and strengthen government-village relations. With these objectives in mind, the minister personally undertook the arduous journey to connect with the villagers and understand their challenges and concerns.
Mangder village is one of the most isolated settlements in West Sikkim. Due to the absence of motorable roads and basic connectivity, residents on a daily basis traverse steep terrain to access essential services till date. As informed, it takes approximately two hours of trekking both downhill and uphill to reach the nearest motorable road.
During the visit, minister Bhutia distributed essential household items, including pressure cookers to every household and to local community organisations. He interacted with residents, inquiring about their welfare, challenges, and development needs.
Addressing the villagers, the minister announced that a preliminary survey for the construction of a motorable road under the PMGSY scheme had already been completed and approved by the concerned ministry. He assured that construction work would commence soon and that Mangder village would be prioritised in future development plans.
Minister Bhutia highlighted the potential of Mangder village as a rural tourism destination. “Once road connectivity to the Gangyay hot spring via Mangder is completed, it will open up avenues for rural tourism. The village can develop into a scenic picnic spot, especially due to its natural beauty and proximity to the famous Gangyay hot spring,” he stated.
The minister assured the villagers of continued support from the state government in all aspects possible for their upliftment and development.
Later in the day, the minister also visited Saliram village, where he interacted with residents and addressed their concerns.
It may be noted that the Minister’s visit marked the first time a sitting MLA and State Minister had physically visited the area, a gesture deeply appreciated by the villagers.
- IPR Report
