TEXT OF THE SPECIAL INTERVENTION MADE BY CHIEF MINISTER PAWAN CHAMLING AT THE NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL MEETING

“Strengthen civil society... to ensure steady development and prosperity”
“It is my privilege to place our views on behalf of the people of Sikkim even as we finalize perspective plans and programs for the next five years in this NDC Meet. My written speech already circulated may be taken as read.
Our vision is to achieve inclusive and comprehensive development during the 12th Plan based on three important premises. The first is to sustain and further consolidate on our growth momentum attained so far in all sectors. Second, is to introduce more innovative development programs based on our natural resources in promoting sectors under hydro-power, organic farming, eco-friendly and responsible tourism, horticulture and floriculture. And third is to build productive and socially responsible human capital by imparting best education and skills training.
The last 18 years have witnessed visible transformation in the quality of life and human development index of our people through sustained inclusive growth.
Our range of development strategies have worked. We have maintained peace for our citizens in a border State, achieved great economic momentum, higher growth rate, remarkable progress in education and universal healthcare for our people. Our social safety nets including food security are unsurpassed.
The social fabric of our people have been further strengthened putting the women empowerment on fast track. Recent successful Panchayat Elections bear testimony to this. Fifty percent seats and positions reserved for them have been filled up by women candidates. Substantial fall in poverty is being witnessed in our State. A major thrust in promoting livelihoods and skills amongst our young population is bearing fruit. Our forest cover has increased by several percentage points.
You are all aware that role of geography helps or aggravates, as the case may be, the comparative destiny of Himalayan Mountain States. Ours is a landlocked economy where the cream of development is ploughed back to mainland States. All construction materials and much of food commodities are imported to the mountain States. In addition, we have to take care of many externalities in our development strides arising out of inherent deficits. The psychological pressure of living in a border is another dimension which always looms largest.
We are, therefore, of the firm view that development of border region and states should be taken up as national projects, giving them priority and preference that they deserve. In view, thereof, I would like to flag the following issues before this august forum.
• Need for flexibility of norms under centrally sponsored schemes under central sector schemes. It may be mentioned that some schemes are funded on 50:50 or 75:25 basis. Due to lack of sound resource base, we find it difficult to meet state’s share rendering many schemes ineffective;
• The NEC and NLCPR funding should be more liberal to special category States with timely release of the requisite resources;
• The projects and schemes under SPA/ACA of the State Government may be considered and sanctioned early along with timely release of resources so that the projects are not delayed on the ground;
• Border Area Development Fund may be increased suitably.
Connectivity is one of the biggest development challenges. We are totally dependent on the National Highway 31A. We need to strengthen transportation networks in order to interlink growth centres, promote tourism and support economic and social needs of the people. The September 2011 earthquake showed how vulnerable we are to natural calamity and the regular monsoon onslaught greatly hampers our development initiatives including infrastructure building. The Central Government needs to display urgency in speedy completion of widening and improvement works on the existing National Highway and for construction of a two-lane alternate highway connecting Gangtok from Sevoke in West Bengal. A two-lane road from the upcoming Greenfield airport at Pakyong to Gangtok is also required including intermediate lane connectivity to all the marketing centres and also strengthening of major district roads.
Change in market dynamics and infusion of modern technology including social networking has led to altered social behaviour. This resets priorities and values among the younger generation. Greater emphasis on social capital formation from the traditional perspective, promoting cooperative social relationship, bond of trust, honesty and reciprocity will further strengthen civil society.
This will create level playing fields, appropriate opportunities and diversification of economic activities among young population.
If I am permitted to make a suggestion, I would strongly make a plea for those bureaucrats and political leaders excelling in their respective duties towards public service and nation building, to be recognized and felicitated to boost their morale and confidence, together with other achievers in different fields.
Development only in material sense tends to upset social equity leading to social dysfunction like anti-social tendencies among people. We belong to ancient land nurtured by civilizational values. We believe in mutual co-existence and where our dharma gurus have left behind enduring ideals for peaceful living. We have been taught that where motherhood is worshipped, there is godliness inferring safety and security of our women folks and weaker sections of people as being our sacred responsibility.
We need to create a strong base to strengthen civil society, peaceful law and order environment, political stability and good governance to ensure steady development and prosperity. Towards these goals, the Government of Sikkim has steadfastly worked ever since with good results. I assure this august forum that we are committed to efficient governance, a high growth regime to achieve self-reliance.
Finally, I take this opportunity to congratulate the Hon’ble Prime Minister, the Planning Commission and all the central ministries for completing the 12th Plan Document which, I am sure, will take the country to the next level of progress and prosperity.
Thank you
Jai Hind”