CM attends NITI Aayog Governing Council meeting, highlights Sikkim’s human capital achievements and development priorities

GANGTOK,: Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang-Golay on Thursday attended the Governing Council Meeting of NITI Aayog on the theme “Human Capital for Viksit Bharat @2047,” chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

At the outset, the Chief Minister congratulated the Prime Minister on achieving the historic milestone of becoming India’s longest-serving elected Prime Minister, describing it as a reflection of his visionary leadership, tireless dedication, and unwavering commitment to nation-building, informs a CMO press release.

Addressing the Council, the Chief Minister highlighted Sikkim’s significant achievements in human capital development. He informed that Sikkim was recently declared a Fully Literate State in the presence of the President of India and currently ranks among the top ten States in the Human Development Index, while continuing to perform above the national average in key health and child welfare indicators.

Emphasizing sustainable development, he noted that environmental conservation remains central to Sikkim’s development model, with over 47 per cent forest cover and one of the highest proportions of protected wildlife areas in the country.

Golay also highlighted the State’s efforts to strengthen education, skill development, and digital learning through initiatives such as Green Schools, Mero Rukh Mero Santati, Shishu Samriddhi Yojana, MAYA Mission, and the Bahini Scheme. He further informed the council about the expansion of high-speed broadband connectivity in schools and the establishment of an AI Centre of Excellence in Gangtok.

On youth empowerment, he stated that six Khelo India Centres and a State Centre of Excellence are nurturing sporting talent across Sikkim. He also highlighted entrepreneurship initiatives such as Sikkim INSPIRES and CM Elevate under the State’s vision of “One Family, One Entrepreneur,” aimed at creating opportunities for youth, startups, and MSMEs.

While outlining these achievements, the Chief Minister emphasized that connectivity remains Sikkim’s greatest challenge. He stressed that enhanced road, rail, air, and digital connectivity is essential not only for economic development but also for national security, given Sikkim’s strategic location as a mountainous border State.

Seeking the support of the Government of India, he proposed a dedicated human capital support framework for Himalayan and North-Eastern States, priority implementation of BharatNet 3.0 in remote areas, greater support for AI-enabled education, telemedicine and digital skills, promotion of tourism and wellness-based skill development, and increased flexibility in Centrally Sponsored Schemes for mountain States.

The Chief Minister also requested the extension of the North East Industrial and Investment Promotion Policy (NEIIPP) beyond 2027, highlighting its importance in promoting investment, industrial growth, and employment generation across the North-East.

Reaffirming Sikkim’s commitment to the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047, the Chief Minister expressed confidence that continued cooperation between the Government of India, NITI Aayog, and the States would help build a healthy, educated, skilled, and empowered India, the CMO release mentions.