(a) Policy making process to be democracy-oriented :This Party, the Sikkim Democratic Front, firmly upholds the cause of Sikkimese people in their struggle for democracy and rule of law. A truly democratic Party will always strive to protect and preserve the democratic rights and privileges of the people, whether such a Party is in power or in opposition. We have nothing to hide from the public and this is why our aims and objectives are clearly defined before being placed before the public for scrutiny and information. This party has been founded for a specific reason and with a definite purpose and we shall achieve both in due course of time. This Party will not remain passive on the sideline to witness perpetually the entire gamut of weird circus the Parishad government has been perpetrating ever since it came to power. It is our deep and firm conviction that the present corrupt government in harness will be thrown out to be replaced by a benign government that is pro-poor and people-oriented. That is our aim, our objective that no power on earth can stop us from achieving. A government of the people alone can guarantee true and real democracy in the State.
A Party will become truly democratic in essence when the Party members are privileged to participate in person in the formulating of policies while the public participation in the same is guaranteed via suitable network of information to keep the public fully informed. Policy-making in this Party is not a one-man job. All leaders in the Party heirarchy along with the Party workers will be called upon to participate in the exercise before any policy or directive becomes valid for acceptance. While formulating their views and opinions before they may place them at the meeting, each leader and worker will have consulted the people of the areas each of them represent at the meeting, When a pol.icy is constituted according to norms of democracy, it becomes the bounden duty of all Party members to obey it. Besides, since all members have taken part in formulating that policy, they become normally bound to concede their whole-hearted support to it and to abide by it. The policy framework of any Party constitutes the most potent weapon the Party can ever hope to weild and from which the Party derives its lifeblood. And since all policy matters of the Party are formally determined in consulation with the popular views and opinions of the public at large, this Party will be more than successful in restoring democracy to the people in the State.

(b) Democracy within the Party machinery: Democracy cannot be expected to flow from a Party that has run amok against all cherished principles of the system.If the Party itself is devoid of democratic discipline within its machinery, it cannot be expected to establish democratic rule in the State. The Parishad leadership vis-a-vis N.B. Bhandari is apparently characterised by sheer lack of discipline as Nar Bahadur be lives in willful dictatorship. The other Party leaders, on the other hand, have equally done great dis-service to the cause of democracy by adopting a posture in the face of persistent anarchy that is downright cowardly and uncharacteristic of manly virtues. The S.D.F. leadership, however, does not come under the same category that has either run amok for lack of ploitical discipline or it has gone spineless for lack of manly guts. There can be differences of opinions and views amongst members inside our Party; but it does not mean that they cannot be sorted out through mutual discussion and debate. Because in democracy it is through mutual discussion and debate that all solutions to the problems are sought and arrived at. It is on this principle that democracy functions and thrives. Every member is entitled to express his opinion and table it at the meeting for an unbiased hearing; it, in fact, becomes his privilege to do so. Wether his considered views and opinions are entertained for acceptance will be determined by a majority voting that may be for or against the said motion. The decision of the majority voting shall be final and binding to be respected by all. Differing views by members are always welcome that can be tabled at the CWC for scrutiny and discussion. If such a view is found acceptable to the CWC members, then it can be regularised for general acceptance with full concurrence of the CWC.

(c) Policy towards the media: The people's rights and privileges to receive and provide information on the policies and programmes formulated by the government in harness will be fully guaranteed. The local media provide the most dependable agency in this regard. It is, however, interesting to note that the relation existing between the local media and the present government in power is that of a beggar and a miser, the former prostrating before the later for alms. This is why and how the media people have to bow down before the government to ensure that there newsprints are hitting the news-stand regularly on schedule. Any newsprint that is against the policies of the government will invariably invite instant reprisal of the worst kind while the media persons involved in the controversy are brought down on their knees through threat and intimidation. In extreme cases they become victim of direct physical assaults that can be fatal. All such symptoms of fascist rule shall be outlawed with this Party's ascension to power and the advertsing monopoly allowed and encouraged by this regime will be discontinued on grounds of fair-play and justice. All local papers will receive their due share of advertising assignments while class, culture and standard of the paper must conform to the criteria for selection. All papers in circulation will be lauded for their sincere efforts and endeavour to assess and point out any flaw of flaws that may have crept in while formulating the policies and programmes the government has envisaged for implementation. In a democratic set-up, the media fraternity occupies a pride of place as they are often referred to as the 'Fourth Estate.' Without freedom of the Press democracy cannot thrive to its fullest extent. This Party in power will never think of insulting a media person by asking him to become an informer, because media people have better things to do in order to serve the cause of democracy in the best possible way they alone are capable of. This Party dennounces such despicable practice in the strongest possible terms as it runs counter to all democratic norms and principles.
The evil practice normally adopted by the present government to bring out Party bulletins, pamphlets and literatures at the expense of the State coffers will be totally stopped to prevent wasteful drainage of public funds. The department of I. P. R. will be objectively utilised for the sole purpose it is intended to serve. All relevant and useful information on the government's on-going activities will be released through the IP~ for public information. The S.D.F. party will always remain at hand to distribute these press materials issued by the IPR in villages and towns for public information.
Nepali language has come to the fore-front as the widely spoken language in all the State of the North-East. As a lingua franca, its contribution is unique and immense in forging communal harmony in Sikkim. As a language popularly spoken by millions of people in the country, it has, after decades of struggle, gained recognition as one of the Schedules of the Constitution. The ultimate recognition of Nepali and its inclusion in the Eigth Schedule that came after years of long drawn-out struggle, marks an important milestone in our fight to gain a place in the country's mainstream. It was a fight for justice too. But a floodgate of fresh opportunities has been thrown open with the muchawaited recognition that came with it. As a follow-up to that remarkable event, there is a world of good that is waiting to be reaped; but how to go about it is a big challenge that needs to be met adequately.
In the face of such daunting challenge it would be a sheer waste of time and energy to keep singing the praises of one man when so much meaningful work remains yet to be done to accomplish our desired goal! Nothing can be achieved if we keep up this futile exercise that will only serve to negate what we have accomplished so far. We must forge ahead, overcoming every pitfall that tengs to stagnate or retard the progress which Nepali language is poised to attain in the days to come. It is a national language by virtue of its inclusion in the Eighth Schedule of the constitution and, therefore, it deserves all the improvement and development we can pump into it to justify its rightful place in the country's constitution. A challenge of sort is before us to strive hard to gain a place for Nepali language that is at parwith some of the rich languages of the world. To meet that challenge, the effort expended by a single individual or a single political party or an organisation is not enough. For this to happen, this Party believes in the setting up of an Academy that is representative of all Nepalese of Indian origin and which is far above the mischiefs of party spirit and politics. This Party will do everything within its power to set up such an istitution that will answer all the needs of an academy. This Party will doggedly pursue the task of publishing promising novels, short stories and poems of varied scope attempted by writers of all categories, including budding ones who are at various stages of development. All efforts will be made to see that all literary works in Nepali that are worthy of note and readership will be translated into other noted language to ensure that such noteworthy literary efforts in Nepali receive their due share of appreciation and accolade. Due attention will be paid to the task of bringing out in Nepali all popular folklores, short stories and anecdotes as well as historical facts of import that may be available in the local dialects of the State like Lepcha, Bhutia, Limboo, Mangar, Gurung, rai, Sunuwar and tamang.
This Party has adopted the policy of assuring all financial help needed for the publication of books written by competent authority on the subjects like Science, Health, Arts, Politics, Economic and Social Science among others, This Party will undertake to publish works on these subjects that have already been completed but not published, This Party strongly disapproves of cheap literary work that is devoted to the singing of undeserved praise of a personality or cult which, in essence, has nothing to contribute to the betterment and development of Nepali as a language, This Party has all the support and high esteem for those who, by their creative efforts, have substantional contribution to make towards betterment of the society they live in.
The leadership of the Party is wholly committed to the development and betterment of all local dialects that are normally used by the communities of Lepcha, Bhutia, Limboo, Manger, Gurung, Rai, Sunuwar among others. There are some 'dialects amongst above that are truly archaic and are fast going out of fashion and use, and hence these dialects will become lost to the coming generations of Sikkimese and the civilization at large. All efforts will, therefore, be made to revive and resurrect them through suitable plans and programmes that will become the veritable arms of research facility that will be set up for the purpose. The resurrection and consequent development of these dialects on a sound footing is bound to enrich Sikkim's culture as these ancient dialects constitute the true heritage of an equally ancient land. No language is good or bad in itself; it is the application of that language for a purpose that may be good or bad as the case may be that is determined by that purpose, If everything good and purposeful is propogated through these varied dialects in the State, the sum total good projected collectively by them is sure to strengthen the unity and understanding of the Sikkimese people as a whole. This Party's approach to this significant question is just as democratic in spirit and meaning as it is with all other issues that affect the aspirations and hopes of the Sikkim~se people at large.

(d) Policy on education :Education brings knowledge and enlightenment and hence if it proves detrimental to the interests of a dictatorial regime, it becomes a boon for a democracy-oriented State for advancement and progress. True education is therefore anathema to a dictatorial regime as it cannot survive when overtaken by enlightenment born out of the right kind of education among the oppressed masses. The question that looms large in today's Sikkim is: 'what are the ground realities in the area of education in the State ?' This question needs to be answered in its entirety before we can hope to make any future progress in the field of education. Hence it becomes necessary to make a detailed study of the kind of education that is being imparted presently to our .children and ,the problem they are faced with in their struggle to cope with them.
They are to be found everywhere - in remote villages, in towns and cities - but wherever they are, their callings remain anchored to the noble task and deed of imparting the light of knowledge and learning. In a backward State like Sikkim, the teachers, by the unique role they are called upon to play, become an indispensable asset to both the pupils and their parents. There are letters that have come from afar that have to be read out to illiterate parents who invariably come to the local school teacher for help. And there are proper advice and counseling to be given to the villagers on matters of education, health and sometime even domestic problems that may arise with in some families. Thus a teacher in a village in Sikkim is often a friend, guide and philosopher rolled into one for the village school in Sikkim must be not only competent and understanding,but he should be endowed with a humanitarian bent of mind so that he may appreciate the true perspective of the job he is entrusted with. A comprehensive policy on education formulated on sound principle is a prerequisite for advocating sound education. It must be democratic and people-oriented while its approach must be scientific and value-based. The atmosphere forteaching must be right and proper to facilitate the teaching staff to exercise their individual expertise to the fullest possible extent. But if the policy formulated on education is faulty and devoid of valuebased principles while the State itself is over-run' by lawlessness and chaos, then it is the institution of learning that becomes the first casualty as is evidently happening now. The teachers become helpless under the circumstances to contribute anything positively. The pearls of wisdom which they possess become wasted by being thrown before the swine.
What kind of policy framework has the present Parishad government formulated for implementation. in the State? And what are the downside of this policy that is not only faulty it is totally unsuited to ground realities in SiKkim ?
There is a complete lack of policy framework with this governmepton education just as it is with everything else. All policy matters that have to do with education are subjected to the sway of leader's whims. The present Parishad government is totally incapable of rising to the need of formulating a suitable policy framework on education that is effectively based on those formulated by the government at the Centre so that a system so evolved would prove immensely beneficial to a backward State like Sikkim. The true ability and competence of a person donot count in the present regime; one's ability is judged by the capacity to report against people who are anti-regime. And as long as this government is in power, the good and the upright will always fare badly and suffer while the bad and the wicked will be rewarded with gifts and material benefits. Such weird sense of justice has become the policy of this government that runs deep and rampant in the entire government machinery. Some schools and a college have been built by spending part of the allocated funds made available by the Centre, but the most important thing that matters is the policy framework which is totally lacking in substance. The government's lack of will becomes evident from the fact that even after all these years we cannot yet boast of having a Madhyamik Board of our own in the State. Our schools in toto are either affilicated to West Bengal or Delhi Board for both Madhyamik and Secondary examinations. It naturally follows that when we are not even in a position to commission the setting up of a Madhyamik Board for our own schools in the State, it would be downright foolish on our part to talk about setting up a university. Some people in the government have done extremely well by lining their pockets with funds that were allocated for the purpose of spending on education. Little wonder that the standard of education has been going down with each passing day. And since the 'carrot and stick' policy is applicable to all departments with equal force in the government, the education department is no exception to this rule. Those who agree to partake of the corrupt practices that are rampant in the government and agree to become accomplices in the on-going loot are amply rewarded. But those who are honest and upright and do not approve of the corrupt practices are victimised for their honesty instead of being rewarded. One can easily assess the end results accruing in the area of education when the overall scenario in the administration of the department of education itself is riddled with such rampant irregularities. The teachers in general in today's Sikkim have been literally condemned to lead a life of insecurity and uncertainty under a government that is more hostile than benign. As a result, they are under constant stress and tension for lack of job security and which a.ccounts for their inability to give the best they have in them to do full justice to the noble profession they are engaged in, The policy and programme on education as formulated and adopted for implementation by the government at the Centre will become the key to our own education policies which the Party in power will take up as guideline to tune in with our needs that are peculiar to this backward State. In order to make this exercise full-proof all efforts will be made to obtain expert opinions and guidelines from leading educationists in the country to make sure that with the policy framework so prepared the Party's functionary for culture and education is in a position to introduce a viably effective change in the system of education that exists today in Sikkim. The main objective of our education policy will be to create with it a generation of Sikkimese who are able, competent and endowed with qualities that bring them at par'to face the stiffest of competitions with ease and success; and despite this acquired efficiency, they must not, at any time, denigrade their fellow-Sikkimese but love and respect them instead.
Our Party is committed to the task of setting up respective Boards for both Madhyamik and Secondary examinations in the State itself. It is our strong conviction and belief that for lack of suitable faculties for academic learning inside the State, we have been left far behind in the area of academic achievements which have done much to put our school-going children in poor light. The majority of our school-going children are put to great disadvantage for want of suitable and conducive atmosphere where they can conduct the business of studying and growing up. The low quality of academic training they receive in their poorly run schools does not help either which only serves to make matter worse. So these children, when they grow up, can hardly be expected to sit for the IAS and IPS competitive examinations and to come through with flying clours. The 'quota system' with which all IAS and IPS officers are fed into the administrative system in Sikkim can, at best, be time-bound. So a time will come when all cadre posts in the administration will be filled up by deputationist from states who have qualified IAS and IPS officers, while the posts of clerks and peons will be left open to the Sikkimese to occupy who are not qualified to aspire for higher posts in the government. That such a pathetic situation does not arise in future is a pledge this Party is fully committed to uphold. It is for this reason that this Party will take up the cudgel to bring about a revolutionary change and improvement in the system of education that, at present, is sadly wallowing in utter neglect. We shall establish the relevant Boards for both Madhyamik and Secondary education within the State itself. All villages and towns will be equipped with suitable libraries, 'gymnasiums and sport-clubs. Every village will have library that will be set up with funds provided by both the government and the villages. Every school in Sikkim will be facilitated with a library of its own. A library is a must for every school and college because it can do much to provide information to both pupils and students on a variety of subjects which they need to learn apart from their routine callings. But such library to be furnished in Schools and colleges must be adequately organised to answer the particular needs each school or college may exact on it; only then such a library can adequately serve the purpose for which it is furnished. The idea behind all these constructive efforts is to provide the right kind of environment and atmosphere for our schoolgoing children that can mould them to become fit and worthy fellow-competitors who are capable of meeting head-on all challenges that competitive examinations may throw at them so that they may find a place in the sun with their fellowcolleagues from other more advanced States of the country. Furthermore, we are committed to bring justice to the people by suitably punishing those guilty of rampant corruption while public funds earmarked for their benefit will be utilised for the purpose they are allocated and pledged.
Setting up of institutes for various technological training for the Sikkimese youths will be among the top priorities of this Party to ensure that the State is in a position to produce sizable skilled manpower within a period of four or five years. There being a dirth of skilled manpower due mainly to the lack of suitable infra-structures even for light industries in the State, a step in this direction will certainly create conditions that may be favourable for setting up light industries in the State itself to begin with. Even if we fall short of this target, the suitably trained hands so produced in the state will certainly find employment if they choose to go out to other more advanced States of the country.

(e) Culture :It has become a fashion of sort with the present day leaders in the Sangram outfit to cut jokes and make fun at the expense of dialects spoken by people of varied castes and creeds, including their facial characteristics that go with the Mongol looks and who comprise the majority bulk of State's population. We stand totally opposed to such denigrating exercise being perpetrated from public platforms. Sikkim is endowed with a rich and varied cultural background which every Sikkimese can be rightly proud of. All finer aspects of this rich heritage will be duly preserved and nurtured by this Party while all negative aspects like superstitions, communal hatred and autocratic dispensation - the remnants of feudal past - will be totally eradicated.
Today, a new culture is being widely cultivated in the town and bazaar areas of the State as gam'blirlg is fast replacing all other modes of entertaining pastime. Mostly it is the people from the creamy layer of Sikkimese society who have taken to gambling in a big way as a profitable pastime. When the educated and the well-informed chunk of society is deeply engrossed in the vices of drinking and gambling through the State's blessings, those running the affairs of the S~ate can do what they like to make corruption a thriving industry in the State. And that is exactly what is happening is Sikkim today. Gambling as a means of enterainment during festivals may not be that objectionable as it forms a part of the on-going celebration; but to becorne addicted to gambling on 24-hour basis is definitely a harmful preoccupation that becomes a scourage to society. This will have a bad influence on children on the home-front whose lives become ruined only because of it. A bizarre situation is brought into being when a leader in the government does not give two hoots when he loses five lakhs overhight on cards while a poor man in his constituency finds himself in a spot when he does not have fifty repees in his pocket he needs to provide medical aid to his sick child. But this precisely is the situation in Sikkim today where millions change hands in one single night over gambling while the majority poor are eking out a hard existence living far below the poverty line. We shall change all this and more.
The use of hard drinks is customery in our society and within certain limits it becomes an acceptable social gesture.
But to throwaway money in gambling and drinking becomes an un pardonable crime when you cannot feed and clothe family property with what you earn. This becomes a form of oppression which you are exacting on your family members with impunity. All such vices and evil culture, the gift of the present Sangram regime, shall be eradicated to cleanse the Sikkimese societies that need purging of all such vices. The discipline that needs to be enforced to remove this evil cannot be applied rightaway, even if we wish to do so. But it can be done at the Party level where all Party leaders and workers must refrain from indulging in these vices as a mark of discipline. And this rule of discipline is applicable to all rank and file of the party machinery which they must observe without questions, because we want to introduce the coming generation of Sikkimese to a completely new sets of cultures that are free from the stigma of the present regime.