‘Connect to CM’ Helpline to operate year-round

KUNAL RAI

GANGTOK, : The Chief Minister's Office (CMO), Government of Sikkim, held a media conference today chaired by Karma Namgyal Bhutia, CMO secretary, to brief the press on the recently launched ‘Connect to CM’ and the Chief Minister’s Schemes Integrated Management System. Both initiatives were officially launched by Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang-Golay on October 13 at Samman Bhawan.

CMO secretary Bhutia explained that the ‘Connect to CM’ initiative is a citizen-centric platform designed to bring governance to the doorstep of the people of Sikkim. It enables citizens to raise their concerns directly with the Chief Minister’s Office, ensuring timely and effective delivery of public services.

This marks a new era of transparency and direct engagement, where citizens can access essential services, voice grievances, and communicate directly with the CM’s Office, he stated.

The service became operational from October 14. Citizens can reach ‘Connect to CM’ by calling either 80016-81188 or 93327-81188, between 10:30 am and 4:00 pm, including on government holidays and festivals.

While similar initiatives may exist in other States, ours is operational throughout the year and is truly one of its kind, Bhutia added.

The CMO secretary emphasized that this initiative is part of the government’s ongoing effort to enhance participatory governance and reaffirms its commitment to transparency, responsiveness, and trust. It supplements the existing programs and initiatives of the Chief Minister and the State government, he said.

By integrating technology with public service delivery, ‘Connect to CM’ aims to promote efficiency, accountability, and inclusiveness, it was informed. The initiative aligns with the government’s vision of ‘Aangan Ma Sarkar’ (Government at your doorstep) and the goal to ‘Connect the Unconnected’, ensuring that even the most remote villages are included in the governance process.

Secretary Bhutia informed that all calls made to the helpline will be recorded, including both the caller’s and receiver’s voices. Once a call is received and logged, the caller will be contacted by the CMO within 48 hours with an update on the status of their concern. Callers are advised to keep documents such as their Voter ID, Aadhaar Card, Certificate of Identification (COI), and other relevant paperwork ready to facilitate the resolution of their issues.

Initially, ten trained tele-operators have been deployed at the CMO to manage the ‘Connect to CM’ system. All officials of the CMO are actively engaged in ensuring this initiative provides amicable solutions to the citizens, he added.

To ensure the service reaches even the remotest parts of the State, the CMO has identified and trained monitoring assistants at the Gram Panchayat Unit (GPU) level. These assistants will help citizens scan and upload the required documents to the official email ID. Additionally, the government plans to carry out awareness and sensitisation programs at the ward level to ensure every citizen is informed and can benefit from the initiative.

The press conference was also attended by additional secretary and staff officer to the CM, Depen Sharma; Officer on Special Duty (OSD) DK Chettri; joint secretary Swapna Lama; director SC Katuk; and assistant directors of the CMO.