SIKKIM: Excerpts from Governor’s address in the Budget Session

SIKKIM: Excerpts from Governor’s address in the Budget Session
July 28, 2009

FROM SIKKIM REPORTER

Gangtok: Addressing on the first day of 2009-10 Budget Session in Sikkim Legislative Assembly, Governor Mr. B. P. Singh said:

“At the outset, I take this opportunity to congratulate the Hon’ble Chief Minister Pawan Chamling and his colleagues for the unprecedented victory in the recently concluded general elections. The overwhelming mandate received from the people by Dr. Pawan Chamling for the fourth consecutive term is indeed remarkable. The results of the election are a testimony to the overall good governance, development and maintenance of peace and harmony in the State.

“Improvement in the social sector coupled with rapid infrastructure development has made Sikkim one of the model States of the country. The exemplary personal involvement of the Hon’ble Chief Minister and his able team and the overall development of the State in achieving a high growth rate is commendable.

“The Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) at current prices rose from Rs.545 crore in 1995-96 to Rs. 2612 crore in 2008-09 as per advance estimates. The net per capita income also increased from Rs. 10021 to Rs. 37553 in 2008-09. The index of GSDP increased by 379% and per Capita Net State Domestic Product (NSDP) by 275% during the period 1995-96 to 2008-09.

“In recent times, Sikkim has bagged a number of prestigious awards like the Nirmal Rajya Puraskar for being the first State in the country to achieve 100% sanitation and the 4th JRD Tata Award 2008 among the small States based on performance in key health indicators. These awards are undoubtedly, indications that the plans, programmes and policies of the Government are headed in the right direction.

“The State’s Annual Plan document has been guided by the 11th Five Year Plan approved by the Government of India. The thrust of our 11th Five Year Plan is the inclusion of various flagship programmes, viz a viz National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGA), Indira Awaas Yojana, National Rural Health Mission, Pradhan Mantri Grameen Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) and Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM).
“I am happy to mention that the State Plan outlay for the year 2009-10 has been fixed at Rs. 1045.00 crores, which brings an increase of 22.65% from the allocation of the last financial year. Focus has been laid primarily on health, portable and safe drinking water, education, power and energy, agriculture, horticulture and tourism sectors and the youth. It is our endeavor to provide health security, food security and to better the status of women and children in the State.

“Apart from this, the Government aims to provide 10% of the total budget from the plan outlay for the capacity building initiative for the educated youth of Sikkim. This is being done with a view to honing up the skills of the educated unemployed in the fields of tourism and hospitality, mass communication and IT, modern methods of agriculture and animal husbandry, floriculture, cottage industry, trade and other skilled jobs. The aim is to create new opportunities for the youth, for purposeful and sustainable living. The State Government is in the process of building an institute for capacity building, thereby becoming the first State in the country to initiate such a policy”.