Himalayan Times (1960)

March <i, I960

S»tital«[i«n (Jlrnti

of the progreit mad* io

far by the development
plans and consequent im-
provement in health and
sanitation the death rata
will go down. The dec-
lining rate of mortality,
mi ess acooinpanied by a
fall in the birth rat- will,
n*.tOtaliy lead to a rapid
inorrase in population
wh oh, in turn will coo.
tr bute large additions to
the future working force.

The prnent indica-
tions are that the death
rate will go down from
21 6 per thousand per
annum duriDg the Second
Plan period to 18.2 du-
ring tbe Third Plan pe-
riod, while there will be
only a small change in
the birih rate from 40 7
to 311.0 daring the period.
Consequently, tbe popula-
tion is est unat<il to go
up at an annual rate of
2.1 per cent when there
will be an increase of
48 8 million in the total
population and a corrrs
[lending rise of 15 0 mil-
lion in the working force.

In. order to tackle
tbe employment problem
in the future plans, it ia
imperative that from now
onwards the population
growth is inte prelcd in
terms of additional jobs
that are likely to be re-
quired to meet tbe growth
in the working foroe.

The decline of birth
rate may not be very
significant with reference

to the additions to the
working force in the im-
mediate future as those
who constitute the po-
tential working force are
already born. But it ia
essential that a beginning
should be made in cutting
down the birth rate to
curb the future increases
in the working population
which will otherwise as-
sume large dimensions.
There is already a sur-
plus of manpower for
whom adequate employ-
ment opportunities have
to be created during the
curreut plan and, unless
the rate of population
growth is now brought
down, the pressure of
employment market will
continue to rise during
the future plans.

SIKKIM LOOKS AHEAD
(Continued from page 3)
"On an approach from
the Government of India
to lend a helping hand to
bring immediate relief to
the fast increasing number
of Tibetan Refugees in
congested Indian Camps,
His Highness's Govern-
ment as a temporary
measure took in nearly
5,000 of them setting up
a Relief Committee headed
by Maharaj Kumari Phueng-
kang Lhacham and dona-
ting inspire of our much
depleted p sources, a sum
of Rs 10,000 to the cause
of suffering humanity. These
refugees are earning their'-
living as workers on the

road projects in Sikkim
and are thankful to His
Highness's Government for
what has been done for
them.

"Re-polling and Bye-
elections to the Sikkim
Council are over and tlie
newly elected members
have already been sworn
in. 1 he Council will mee-
soon to discuss and delibe-
rate on the various admit
nistrative activities

Concluding his speech
Sri B. Prasad observed
that the world around us
is making tremendous ad.
vance. We in Sikkim also
have to consider our pro.
blems of economic deve-
lopments and higher s"an-
dard of living in the present-
day context. The Sikkimese
people— Lepchas, Bhutias,
Nepalese all alike and
together have to advance
and progress in fullest
co-operation to evolve a
stucture of living which
fulfills our material needs
and at the same time
sustains our minds and
spirit.

His Highness presented
Sanads to several State
official for the loyal ser-
-vices. Sikkim's most^dis-
tir.guished award the Poti-
pedor was presented to
Rai Bahadur T. D. Den.
sappa & Rai Bahadur F.C.
Jali while the a,vard of
Pema Dorjee was presented
to Rai Saheb Bhim Baha-
dur Pradhan & a high
Tibetan official.