Samdup Lepcha seeks Minority Affairs ministry’s intervention for effective implementation of PMJVK and PMVIKAS in Sikkim

GANGTOK, : A Sikkim government delegation, led by Social Welfare minister Samdup Lepcha, participated in the two-day Chintan Shivir held on February 18-19 at Nalanda University, Rajgir, Bihar. The delegation included secretary Sarika Pradhan, chief engineer Thinley Gyatso Chankapa and special secretaries Satyen Pradhan and Bandana Chettri from the Social Welfare department, informs  a press release.

The Chintan Shivir was organised by the Ministry of Minority Affairs, bringing together senior officials, policymakers, domain experts, and stakeholders from across the country to deliberate on key policy priorities and programme implementation strategies concerning minority welfare. The programme was chaired by Union Minister for Minority Affairs, Kiren Rijiju, along with Minister of State for Minority Affairs, George Kurian, and ministers from Arunachal Pradesh, Tripura, Nagaland, Bihar and Sikkim.

The event commenced on February 18 with the arrival and registration of participants, followed by briefing sessions and thematic presentations. Senior officials of the Ministry outlined the objectives and approach of the Chintan Shivir. Academic and institutional experts, including representatives from IFCI Venture Capital Funds Ltd., Foundation for Innovation and Technology Transfer of IIT Delhi, and Survey of India, shared valuable insights. The day concluded with thematic discussions and a cultural programme.

On February 19, the programme began with a yoga session, followed by the inaugural ceremony attended by dignitaries from the Central and State governments. During the inaugural session, key initiatives such as the PMJVK App, Haj Suvidha Smart Wrist Band, and the Ministry’s AI Chatbot Portal were launched by Union Minister Kiren Rijiju.

A major highlight of the Shivir was the focused group discussions held across the following five thematic areas: infrastructure development, socio-economic empowerment, Waqf management, Haj management and scholarship schemes.

These discussions enabled officials to share field experiences, identify implementation challenges, and propose actionable policy recommendations.

In his address, Minister Samdup Lepcha expressed sincere gratitude to the Ministry on behalf of the Government of Sikkim for sanctioning several health and educational projects that have significantly strengthened the healthcare and education systems for the benefit of minority populations in the State. He noted that these initiatives have contributed to meaningful improvements in the quality of life of minority communities.

He also highlighted the challenges faced by the State in the effective implementation of projects under PMJVK and PMVIKAS and requested the intervention and continued support of the Ministry of Minority Affairs. The minister presented a status report on the Buddhist Development Project for Sikkim and sought further assistance for health, sports, and educational infrastructure development, as well as related interventions aimed at community well-being, youth empowerment, and inclusive social progress.

The concluding session focused on thematic consolidation and the way forward, with speakers presenting key findings, best practices, and priority action points emerging from the group deliberations.

The event concluded with closing remarks by Kiren Rijiju, who emphasised the importance of close coordination and collaborative engagement between the Union and State governments. Citing Sikkim as an example, he lauded the State Social Welfare department for its expeditious implementation of projects and encouraged other States to follow this exemplary approach by prioritising the timely completion of development initiatives. He reaffirmed the Central government’s commitment to inclusive development, effective programme delivery, and strengthened institutional coordination for the welfare of minority communities across the country, the release adds.