H.E. The Governor of Sikkim's speech at Budget Session of Sikkim Assembly

Hon’ble Speaker and Hon’ble Members of the Sikkim Legislative Assembly, I convey my warm greetings to you, to your families and to the people of Sikkim.


To begin with let me express my appreciation for the all round development and the efforts made by the government in maintaining peace, communal harmony and security in the State. These are the hallmarks of the State which are acknowledged both within the country and abroad. There is no doubt that socio-economic development is the main ingredient for peace and security of a nation.


For the past several years we are one of the best performing States in the country with a number of positive indicators in crucial sectors such as Health, Rural Management & Development, Human Resource Development, and Tourism. These achievements have been possible because of peace, tranquility, good governance and the prevailing security environment. The government’s proactive leadership and vision have made a positive impact on socio-economic growth.


The dedication exhibited by the leadership of the government in discharging its duties is worthy of praise. A large number of innovative ideas and projects have been launched by the government with a view to usher in meaningful change in the lives of the people. Truly Sikkim has a forward looking and progressive government, resolute in its approach to transform the State’s economy. This has been appreciated by the Central government and rewards have come in the form of enhanced budget allocation for the current fiscal year.


Budget Allocation:
I am happy to announce that Sikkim’s Annual Plan outlay for the year 2011-12 has been fixed at 1400 crores, against the revised Plan outlay of 863.72 crores for the year 2010-11. The revision was necessitated because of the implementation of the Fiscal Reforms and Budget Management (FRBM) Act, 2010 from 1st January 2011 in the State. The outlay of 1400 crores for the year 2011-12 represents massive increase of 62.09% over the previous year. This is in recognition of the progress and development achieved by the State with good governance and effective delivery of services. I am sure the tempo of the development dynamism will continue and flourish in the 12th Plan period also.


The 11th Plan (2007-08 to 2011-12) had sought to build on the gains achieved in the 10th Plan and shift the economy on a path of faster and more inclusive growth. Inclusiveness is now a critical element in the strategy to achieve broadbased growth aimed at overcoming deficiencies in critical areas which affect a large number of vulnerable sections of our population, particularly the scheduled castes and tribes, the other backward classes, women and minorities. The 11th Plan sought to deal with these deficiencies through programmes aimed at providing access to health, education, clean drinking water and other essential services, including extending livelihood support to every nook and corner of the State.


I am pleased to record that my Government has made all possible efforts to harmonize the sectoral approaches inherent in the Plan document. The National focus on growth, prospects for agriculture, poverty reduction, access to education and health care including skill development have been kept in view while deciding schemes and projects for the State. We have followed the National perspective and policies while tailoring it to suit our own specific requirements and priorities. Benefits have percolated to the grassroot level and greatly improved the socio-economic condition of the weaker sections of the population. But this should not make us complacent as more needs to be done as we have set for ourselves a higher level of development profile.


Rural Sector:
The budget document has been framed with a view to reconcile growth and development targeting the poor and vulnerable sections of the society. The urban-rural disparity and the consequent migration is to be controlled by vigorous implementation of all the 15 National Flagship programmes. The anti-poverty programmes have also been launched with a similar objective of ensuring inclusive growth.


Under the rural housing scheme my government is focused on providing a roof over the head of every family in the State. This is to be achieved by constructing new houses and upgrading those already constructed. The scheme will benefit the homeless and the rural poor who are living below the poverty line.


The MGNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act) implementation in the State has been a huge success. Under this scheme, the dhara (spring) vikash programme has been introduced to conserve natural water bodies originating from deep aquifers. Harnessing modern technology, water harvesting is being done in the drought prone areas of south and west districts of the State.


MGNREGA being a programme to improve rural areas has helped in transforming the rural scenario. Construction of concrete footpaths to connect rural habitations, construction of minor irrigation channels and play grounds for children, land leveling and shaping, terrace farming as well as re-plantation and regeneration of orange, ginger and cardamom are some of the rural schemes taken up under the programme. Direct monitoring by the Gram Panchayats as well as system of social audit have enhanced the quality of work.


Poverty Alleviation:
The State Government has laid special focus on poverty eradication. A great deal of emphasis is being given to the rural sector for the development and upliftment of the people of rural areas. As a result the percentage of families living below the poverty line has been steadily decreasing. This explains the positive impact of the poverty alleviation programmes being undertaken by my government since 1994 when a policy decision was taken to allocate 70% of the plan budget for the rural sector. The same policy continues to guide our attention towards social commitment by way of introducing a range of social safety nets to guarantee basic minimum needs to the deprived and disadvantaged sections of the society.


Health Sector:
My government accords topmost priority to the health sector. Existing health infrastructure facilities are being upgraded and innovative steps involving preventive and curative measures which encompass diagnostic facilities for timely detection of ailments for all age-groups are being undertaken. The most recent initiative has been the launching of the Chief Minister’s Comprehensive Annual and Total Check-up for Healthy Sikkim (CATCH) campaign. We need to be adequately equipped with a comprehensive data covering the health profile of each and every citizen in the State. This will be monitored and updated annually so that the required delivery mechanism for timely intervention in providing health care and treatment can be organized more efficiently. Such an exercise will involve upgrading the technical expertise of our doctors and the paramedics as well as improving the physical facilities for diagnostic services covering the entire network of our medical centres. Action in this regard will be initiated with careful planning and by preparing a realistic road map to achieve the goals.


Presently, a 575 bedded multi-specialty hospital is under construction in the vicinity of the State Capital. Once completed, it will fulfill the ambition of my government to provide the best medical treatment facility within the State.


Education Sector:
Education is a top priority of my government. Almost 20% of the plan is allocated for this sector in our quest to provide quality education to our children.


My government seeks to eradicate illiteracy and achieve a high educational status at par with the best in the country. Under the Chief Minister’s Meritorious Scholarship Programme the State Government is sponsoring free education to the promising students at the class V State level to the premier public schools within as well as outside the State. Already 150 students have benefited under this programme. I consider this as a unique innovative programme directly benefiting the children of the rural areas.


Though education is accessible to everybody in the State, a mechanism has been evolved to monitor and implement the school programmes so that visible outcomes can be achieved. My government realizes that teachers are very important to impart quality education and to that extent it is crucial to provide proper training to the teachers. Every effort is being made to improve education in the State be it at school level or in colleges both in terms of hardware and software.


Tourism Sector:
In the tourism sector, Sikkim is a leader not only among the north-eastern states but its performance has been better than some of the bigger states, also. The achievement of the tourism sector has been recognized in the form of 8 or more national and other awards. This is a fast growing industry in the State. Last year, the State registered 7 lakhs domestic tourist arrivals and 29,000 international visitors. This represents nearly 14% (domestic) and 17% (international) growth in arrivals over the previous year. My government aims to make the State number one in all year round eco-tourism tourist destination.


Tourism and hospitality industry have tremendous employment potential. Eco-tourism, rural tourism, adventure tourism and culture tourism are our main strengths. More concerted efforts and focus need to be put in place to capitalize on these strengths in order to create avenues both for self employment and resource generation.


In the 12th Five Year Plan period my government’s priority would be to move on the path of sustainable economic development and self-reliance by harnessing the State’s well endowed natural resources. Towards this end, priorities of my government are promotion and development of environmental as well as eco-friendly tourism with specific emphasis on the promotion of horticulture and floriculture as also production of low volume but high value organic agricultural produce.


Power and Energy Sector:
My government realizes that energy is a vital input for any development and as we make progress we require more and more energy. The Central Water Commission has estimated that Sikkim has 8000 Mws of hydro-power potential. The government has formulated a vision document to tap 5000 Mws of power by the year 2015, putting in place efficient and well planned evacuation and transmission system while improving the transmission and distribution networks to bring down the technical and commercial loss to 15% by 2015.


My government has allotted hydro power projects to private power developers and NHPC on Build Own Operate and Transfer (BOOT) and Build Own and Operate (BOO) basis, respectively with agreements to supply free power which is likely to generate substantial revenue for the State. But the task ahead to achieve the goals of the vision document is both challenging and formidable as it calls for maintaining a delicate balance between ecological conservation and revenue generation to avert adverse environmental impacts. My government is fully aware of the need to preserve its rich natural heritage while pursuing its development goals to make the State prosperous and self reliant.


Connectivity Infrastructure:
The elements of infrastructure such as telecommunication, transportation networks and power supply are important for creation of a stable and peaceful society. It is also necessary to usher in progress and prosperity and to keep poverty, illiteracy and unemployment at bay.


My government has made consistent efforts to improve the road connectivity, the evidence of which are everywhere throughout the State. Internally Sikkim today is one of the most well connected States in the country with roads providing vital link to even the remotest villages in the State. As a result of the efforts of my government, improvement upon and widening of NH 31A, are taking place and by 2015 work on this entire stretch of road from Siliguri to Nathula and to north Sikkim will be completed. The progress is being monitored on a regular basis at the highest levels in the State. The construction of the airport at Pakyong is progressing. Likewise the first phase of the railway project to link Rangpo town to Sevoke has been sanctioned and by the year 2015 Gangtok hopes to be on the railway map of the country. Telecommunication and internet connectivity too are being monitored to improve the situation throughout the State.


Decentralization:
Democratic decentralization with inclusive and participative governance has been put in place in every panchayat administrative unit throughout the State. With the creation of the 27 Block Administrative Centres, the process of decentralized district planning for every micro unit of administration within the State has been brought into operation. The bottoms-up approach to the planning process involving District level officials and elected representatives of all Gram Panchayats and Zilla Panchayats has now become a reality. With a view to empowering the Panchayat institutions, the State Government has continued to earmark 10% of the plan outlay from every developmental sector as decentralized allocation to the Zilla and Gram Panchayats. This is to be utilized under their discretion and control for schemes to be taken up within their respective jurisdiction. The State government is also in the process of preparing Village Development Action Plan (VDAP) for every Gram Panchayat to facilitate need-based perspective planning.

Capacity Building:
The Skill Development Initiative that my government launched in 2003 has become an effective programme to make our educated youth employable and skilled enough to harness diverse opportunities available both within and outside the State. Apart from the existing Directorate of Capacity Building, an Institute of Capacity Building has also been established in the State to expand the scope of capacity building prospects. The launching of the Chief Minister’s Self-Employment Scheme has been instrumental in carrying forward the initiatives taken under the Skill Development Mission and a large number of youth have benefited from vocational ventures including agro-based activities, IT related vocations, and eco-tourism services.


My government has formulated a multi-pronged approach for securing employment oriented development skills over the decade. This measure has helped to spur economic growth in the State. The capacity building initiative of the Government has witnessed commendable success with impressive placement figures particularly in the hospitality sector.


Many young boys and girls are also undergoing different kinds of vocational upgradation training in 31 Livelihood Schools, established almost in every constituency. These schools are providing vocational training to absorb the youth in the local service sector in such areas as school repairs, making of furniture and fixtures, etc.


Demands of the State Government:

My Government is sincerely and vigorously pursuing with the Central Government :

(i) to increase the number of seats in the Sikkim Legislative Assembly from 32 to 40;

(ii) to provide for reservation of seats for the enlisted tribals of Limboo and Tamang communities without disturbing the 12 seats reserved for the Bhutia-Lepcha communities ;

and

(iii)to grant Income Tax exemption to the old settlers in the State of Sikkim.


I may add that as requested by the people and the Government of Sikkim the Chief Minister has been raising all the above mentioned issues repeatedly for early resolution before the Central leadership during his meetings with them.


Missions & Visions:
My Government has identified number of missions to be achieved by the year 2015. These missions such as Literacy mission, Organic mission, Poverty free mission, Power and Energy Sector vision mission, Social Security and Cooperative mission, and Forestry and Environment mission have been designed to make the State self-reliant. Let the government and the people work together to bring about rapid development of the State by 2015.

Recognitions:
We have to our credit more than 20 national and other awards in various categories conferred by the Government of India and other agencies in the field of tourism, primary education, security, justice and health. On 2nd February, 2011 in a sammelan held in Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, the Hon’ble Prime Minister and the UPA Chairperson, Smt. Sonia Gandhi conferred the National Awards in the categories of the best performing Gram Panchayats, District MGNREGA teams, and NGOs to Sikkim; the only State to have achieved this triple distinction.


While congratulating ourselves for what we have achieved inspite of formidable constraints, we must not forget that all of us are here to serve the people. The people have given us the mandate to occupy public offices. Hence it is our duty to make every effort to live upto their expectations. This becomes particularly challenging as we have miles to climb.


Concluding Observations:
It is heartening to note that the per capita income of 57,637 at current prices for 2009-10 has shown a healthy increase of 17.14% when compared to that of 2008-09 financial year which was 49,201.


In this background, as we embark on to the 12th Five Year Plan, we can look forward to starting the next Plan on a right note to work for giving economic freedom to our people and for making Sikkim a prosperous State. Towards this end my Government will make every effort to accelerate the pace of development.


The State has given due fiscal priority to the developmental, social sector and infrastructure requirements. In fact, we are moving on the path of effective delivery of services for and economic freedom of the people of Sikkim. Let deliberations of this budget session be in furtherance of that movement. I wish your endeavors all success.


JAI HIND

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