REPUBLIC DAY MESSAGE OF HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR OF SIKKIM ON 26 JANUARY, 2009.
My dear fellow citizens,
Today we celebrate the 60th Republic Day. On this auspicious occasion, I extend my heartiest greetings and good wishes to all of you and to the rest of the countrymen.
We are immensely grateful to the founding fathers of our Republic for their foresight and wisdom in formulating an exemplary Constitution that has stood the test of time and has steered the nation in its arduous journey through the decades.
Progress with social justice and harmony is the hallmark of the Constitution. It provides mechanism for peaceful resolution of differences and disputes. Our Constitution bestows avenues to every section of the society to air its views and grievances, and to work for their resolution in a democratic way. The founding fathers and our leaders in the early years of the Republic worked hard to build a strong India brick by brick. We will have to carry this task further.
We gratefully remember our freedom fighters, who under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi, taught us to work for freedom and justice.
I convey my special greetings to the soldiers and members of the armed forces who guard our borders in harsh and hostile conditions.
The Republic Day is an important day in the life of a nation. We have to celebrate the day with a sense of renewal in order to build a strong and united India that is inclusive and gives opportunity to every citizen to lead a life of dignity and equality.
Like other States of the Indian Union, we have reasons to celebrate the Republic Day in Sikkim. Democracy is taking deep roots in the State and is extremely conducive to promotion of Sikkimese way of life. In fact, the Sikkimese way of life gives respect for family values, tolerance and harmony. In Sikkim, we have a happy blend of tradition and modern values of democracy and development.
Sikkim is moving in the direction of orderly progress. The State Government has identified the thrust areas in the realm of agriculture and horticulture; tourism; hydel power generation; human resource development and capacity building; and decentralization of power to the people.
The focus in agriculture is on high value products. We are set to become a completely organic State by 2015 as a ban on use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides is already in place. New ways of seed production, soil testing and corrections through organic supplements, are being adopted. We work for promotion of integrated farming systems, protection of local varieties of maize, paddy, and organically grown ginger. Similarly, in horticulture and floriculture, initiatives like post-harvest and marketing, disease management in fruits, commercial production of medicinal plants, value addition to bamboo products, green house coverage and setting up of tissue culture laboratories are some of the important areas where work has been undertaken.
Sikkim takes the distinct credit for holding the International Flori Show in March, 2008 which was a grand success. It showcased the states vast potential in the floriculture sector. 22 International companies, 65 National companies and 15 State Government and National Government agencies took part in the flori show. Over a lakh visitors from the State and neighboring States as well as foreign tourists participated in the event.
Tourism has tremendous potential to gainfully engage the youth. Nature has bestowed Sikkim with unparalled scenic beauty and it has become one of the most sought after tourist destinations in the country. In order to render unique experience to the visitors and utilize optimum potential in this sector, extensive tourist infrastructure is being developed. Ecotourism and wildlife is being promoted along with adventure tourism, village tourism and promotion of local fairs and festivals. As a result, there is steady increase in tourist arrivals, both domestic and international in the State. In fact, tourism is slowly becoming one of the main industries of the State.
Hydel potential of about 8000 MW exists in the State. The State Government is providing free power to the rural sector upto 50 units per house. Six mega hydel projects are under implementation. A total of 27 projects have been allotted to different independent producers including NHPC. 4 projects totaling 1900 MW is to be completed within the 11th Plan period. The State is aware of the negative fallout on environment and it has ensured minimal environmental impact and ecological degradation while implementing hydel projects.
The Government is working towards strengthening of its human resource base. It has initiated capacity building and skill development programmes to enable the educated unemployed youth to find gainful employment both in government as well as in private sector. A separate Directorate for capacity building has been established and extensive career oriented programmes have been introduced in this behalf.
Education holds key to the future of Sikkim. Our education system must be geared up to meet the demands of the new age to build a knowledge based society. The Government has moved in the direction of providing primary, upper primary and secondary schools nearer the villages to facilitate learning. The focus of the Government has been to further strengthen school infrastructure including provision for computer training. The Government has a policy of providing free text books and uniforms. We are also aware of the need to have trained teachers so that quality education is imparted to our children.
Decentralization of power to the elected representatives of people in panchayats is an article of faith. Investment in creating assets at the village level concerning various development programmes is systematically progressing.
To ensure gender equality, forty percent reservation has been made for women in the panchayats and equal property rights given to them in the parent’s property. Thirty percent of all posts under the State Government and public sector undertakings are reserved for women. We have to move further in this direction. For a happy family and harmonious society are what we need.
The major challenge that we are facing in accelerating the pace of development relates to connectivity.
India is undergoing a major change on account of internet connectivity. The development of Sikkim also depends upon how rapidly our young boys and girls become proficient in computers. I am happy to know that the children in Sikkim are taking to computers rapidly and in a systematic way.
The other connectivity issue relates to road network. National Highway 31A is the life line of the State. We would, however, also like to expeditiously build an alternate road to Gangtok. The Government of India has recently approved the construction of an alternate route to Gangtok via Chalsa in West Bengal at a cost of Rs. 410 crores. We are keen that the construction work on this alternate axis commences as early as possible.
As regards air connectivity, the Government of India is going to construct an airport at Pakyong near Gangtok with suitable contribution from Government of Sikkim. The Airport Authority of India, who are going to construct the airport, has committed that the project will be completed within 36 months starting from 10th January, 2009.
As far as railway connectivity is concerned, the Government of India has cleared the proposal to have a railway line from Sevoke in West Bengal to Rangpo in East Sikkim as a part of the national project.
Thanks to the efforts of my Government and people of the State, pace of progress in Sikkim is being admired by visitors from other parts of India as well as abroad. Our achievements in different fields of development have received national recognition. Recently, the President of India presented the Nirmal Rajya Puraskar to Sikkim as it became the first State in the Country to achieve 100% sanitation. On 9th January, 2009 the 4th JRD Tata Award 2008 among small states based on performance in key health indicators was received by the Chief Minister from the Vice President of India.
As development takes place, more financial resources will reach us. We should not, however, forget that our objective is not merely to make money. We must work to strengthen the Sikkimese way of life. We must work together to preserve and protect our rich culture and heritage.
Let us pledge to move on the secular and democratic path, which the founding fathers of our Constitution had laid down. We must shed the fear of the unknown and have self confidence to take up new initiatives.
The responsibility for development of the State does not lie with the Government alone. It is also the responsibility of every citizen to contribute and to come forward and shoulder the burden while working in a united manner for a better tomorrow.
Our main challenge is to build Sikkim where there is no poor and to strengthen each family in a manner that every child, boy or girl, is educated.
Let us resolve today to make Sikkim a developed State of India.
JAI HIND
