New Delhi, June 12, 2026 — Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang (Golay) on Friday took part in an Interaction Programme convened by NITI Aayog with the chief ministers and chief secretaries of the North‑Eastern states in New Delhi, using the forum to highlight Sikkim’s recent achievements and to press the central government for urgent support on connectivity, climate‑resilient infrastructure and social development.
Tamang expressed gratitude to NITI Aayog and the Government of India for their guidance and backing of North‑East development, and praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership as instrumental in advancing regional connectivity, infrastructure, tourism, digital access, investment and human development.
He told the gathering that Sikkim was recently declared a Fully Literate State in the presence of President Droupadi Murmu, becoming the country’s fifth state to achieve full literacy. He credited state initiatives such as the Chief Minister’s Model School Initiative and the Chief Minister’s Special Numeracy Programme for driving educational gains.
The chief minister also highlighted Sikkim’s environmental milestones, including the recognition of Khangchendzonga National Park as India’s first UNESCO Mixed World Heritage Site and the designation of Khecheopalri Lake as the state’s first Ramsar site. He cited flagship schemes such as Mero Rukh Mero Santati and Shishu Samriddhi Yojana as part of the state’s conservation and welfare agenda.
On social welfare, Tamang outlined measures to strengthen women’s health, dignity and economic security, including a 33 percent reservation for women in government services and processes. He emphasised the state’s mental‑health and suicide‑prevention work under the Sikkim INSPIRES initiative, expanded psycho‑social support systems and ongoing campaigns against substance abuse.
Under Sikkim Vision 2047, the chief minister reiterated the state’s long‑term goal to build a USD 70 billion economy with per‑capita income exceeding USD 80,000 through evidence‑based governance, value‑chain development, entrepreneurship and sustainable growth.
Tamang pressed for central assistance on multiple infrastructure priorities: strengthening NH‑10, development of an alternative Melli–Sevoke highway, implementation of the Singtam–Melli Greenfield Climate‑Resilient Alignment (NH‑210), construction of NH‑717 and climate‑resilient upgrades in North Sikkim including NH‑310A and NH‑310AG, tunnels, bridges and slope stabilization. He noted that commercial flights at Pakyong Airport have been suspended since June 2024 and sought early restoration of services, proposed rail connectivity to the upgraded Bagdogra Airport, and urged expedited completion of the Sivok–Rangpo railway. He also called for priority deployment of BharatNet 3.0 to deliver high‑speed internet to remote mountain areas.
Flagging demographic concerns, the chief minister drew attention to a declining total fertility rate among indigenous communities and requested that the Government of India extend the North East Industrial and Investment Promotion Policy (NEIIPP) beyond 2027, reconsider the discontinuation of the MOVCDNER scheme, upgrade Nathula trade‑route infrastructure and support an Integrated Check Post and multimodal corridor at Chewabhanjyang on the Sikkim–Nepal border. He reaffirmed Sikkim’s commitment to the Viksit Bharat @2047 vision and expressed confidence that with continued central support the state will serve as a model of balanced, inclusive and sustainable development.
Original Source: https://www.thesikkimchronicle.com/chief-minister-highlights-sikkims-achievements-and-development-priorities-at-niti-aayog-interaction-programme/
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Publish Date: 2026-06-12 21:00:00
