Sikkim today is firmly positioned to attain self-sufficiency: Chamling

Gangtok, Feb 5: Stating that the Commission for Review of Environment and Social Sector Policies, Plans and Programmes for Human Development (CRESP-HuD) of Sikkim is the first such commission on human development in India, Chief Minister Pawan Chamling today the commission has greatly enhanced the State government's perception in the overall socio-economic condition of Sikkimese people.
"The findings made by this Commission under Prof Roy Burman has greatly enhanced the level of our understanding to ascertain the overall impact made in the socio-economic condition of our people", said the Chief Minister today during the first meeting of the commission here at Chintan Bhavan, Gangtok.
Stating the basic objectives of human development, Mr. Chamling said that the State government has recorded greater participation by people in community activities and in decision making processes at various levels over the last 15 years.
The Chief Minister pointed out that a previous advisory committee had been tasked to prepare a manual containing human development messages and agenda in Sikkim. Vision documents of 161 out of 166 Gram Panchayat Units (GPU) have been prepared, he said.
Based on the indications of the GPU level, vision documents gazette notification have been issued abolishing Guardian Officer (Panchayat Mitra) attached to Panchayat bodies, said Mr. Chamling adding that this is an indication of the maturity attained by the local bodies in their functions.
Similarly, quick studies have been made of a dozen industries, entrepreneurial development schemes, primary health centres, primary and secondary schools, organic farming, planting pathology of large cardamom on an epidemic scale and selected public sector undertakings, said the Chief Minister. "The tentative findings have been communicated to the concerned line departments for intensive action research leading to reformulation of policies and action agenda.
Despite Sikkim entering into the planning process in the late seventies, the Chief Minister asserted that the State is heading towards self-sufficiency in every sphere.
"Sikkim today is firmly positioned to attain self-sufficiency in every sphere of activities. With more than 31 percent of plan allocation to social sector and 20 percent to education, our intention is crystal clear", said Mr. Chamling.
The only challenge with us is even distribution of economic benefits to all sections of population and a balanced and comprehensive growth that is both sustainable and which ensures the greatest happiness to the greatest number of people, said the Chief Minister. He expressed his confidence that the CRESP-HuD will help the Sikkim government to realize this dream into reality.