Why Sikkim Needs To Break Free From The Mediocrity Culture

Sikkim today is witnessing a slow but visible shift in mindset where people are becoming more and more dependent on the government for even their smallest needs. It is true that our government has a compassionate and humane approach. In many other states, citizens rarely even get to meet their MLAs or MPs for genuine issues, but here our representatives listen personally, sit with people, and try their best to solve problems as if they were their own. This is admirable, and one must appreciate the intention behind it. However, the growing culture of relying on the government for every personal requirement is worrying. No government, no matter how benevolent, can individually address the personal needs of thousands of people. When one person’s problem is attended immediately and another person’s is not, it creates a feeling of bias even when none exists. A representative cannot practically fulfil everyone’s expectations all the time, yet the public pressure makes it look like they are choosing whom to help and whom to ignore.

A recent incident highlighted this mindset clearly. A woman complained publicly that the one lakh rupees she received was not enough to build a restaurant. The issue here is not the amount. The real issue is the growing belief that the government should not just support but fully fund every individual’s dream. In a state, how many personal business ventures can the government sponsor entirely? Entrepreneurship cannot survive on entitlement; it survives on risk, initiative, and resilience. But somewhere, these qualities are becoming secondary to the comfort of expecting government assistance at every step.

This is also seen in schemes like “One Family One Job.” The intention behind the scheme is noble to bring stability to households, give families dignity, and ensure basic security. Such initiatives reflect the government’s understanding of the struggles faced by ordinary people and its commitment to support them. At the same time, there is an opportunity to ensure that people are guided and trained to make the most of these roles, so that they can grow professionally while contributing effectively to schools, offices, and institutions. When compassion is combined with encouragement for skill development and personal growth, the impact of such schemes becomes even more meaningful, creating a society that is both supportive and capable.

The consequence of this trend is a silent shift in mindset. People have started to believe that shortcuts are smarter than hard work, that connections matter more than skill, and that government jobs are the only respectable path. Young people with ambition are mocked for “trying too hard.” Someone preparing for UPSC, NEET, judiciary, or a business venture is sometimes labelled foolish for not taking the easier route. Mediocrity is not just accepted; it is normalised. And this mindset kills creativity, confidence, and excellence before they even have a chance to grow.

What is even more alarming is that this culture puts pressure on the very politicians who are trying to help. When people come with personal requests every day, leaders are forced to spend their time resolving individual grievances instead of focusing on education, healthcare, infrastructure, investments, and long-term development. A state progresses when leaders are given room to think, innovate, and plan. If they are constantly judged on how many personal favors they fulfill, they cannot concentrate on reforms that benefit everyone.

Yet, Sikkim is full of talented and hardworking individuals who prove that greatness is possible when one chooses effort over entitlement. Take the example of BT Kancha (Biswas Timshina), who carved a unique path in entertainment and is now thriving in Nepal’s industry. Or Megh Nidhi Dahal, the only person from Sikkim to clear UPSC CSE from the general category, someone who represents what dedication and courage can achieve. There are institutions like CBT Namchi that are producing NEET qualifiers every year, and local ventures like Dahal Finances that are educating people on financial planning and investment. We also have Eksha Kerungo, who, while serving in the Sikkim Police, participated in the national reality show Supermodel Season 2, proving that a woman can excel in multiple fields beyond her professional role. Naseeb Tamang made Sikkim proud by winning the Himalayan Roadies Contest in Nepal, showing that talent from the state can shine on international platforms. There are many such stories that show that excellence is very much alive in Sikkim; it only needs encouragement, not pity.

We cannot ignore another reality: Sikkim is a small state with limited opportunities. Not everyone can get a government job, and not everyone should. A society grows when people diversify when some become artists, some become scientists, some become entrepreneurs, some join civil services, and some work in private industries. But if the only dream we encourage is a government post, then we are shrinking our own future.

What Sikkim needs right now is a gentle but firm shift in mindset. We need to inspire young people to take risks, to build skills, to look beyond shortcuts, and to believe in their own ability. We should build a culture where hard work is respected more than influence, and where people compete with themselves instead of comparing their lives to the benefits others receive. The government can and should help those who truly need it, but the foundation of a strong society is self-reliance, not dependency.

The goal is not to criticise the public or the government, but to remind ourselves that kindness should not replace competence, and support should not substitute personal effort. If Sikkim wants to progress meaningfully, we must break free from the comfort of mediocrity and embrace a culture that values creativity, courage, and excellence. Our leaders can do great things, but only when we allow them to focus on development instead of individual demands. And our youth can achieve extraordinary success, but only when we stop normalising shortcuts and start celebrating hard work

(Views are personal. Email: purnimasharmalk92@gmail.com)