Sikkim’s journey since 1975 has been most fulfilling and rewarding: Governor

GANGTOK, 16 May: “It gives me immense pride to introspect on the factors that have led to the development and the recognition that Sikkim has been achieving. The communal harmony existent amongst all the communities that has also been recorded in the 350 year history of the state speaks volumes that this harmony has now become a way of life of the people here,” said Governor BP Singh in his address delivered at the State-level State Day celebration here at Chintan Bhawan today.
The Governor added that the people of the state have over the years, devised and maintained a ‘code of conduct’, a model that was exemplary and worthy for all to follow. He said that ‘Democracy was the heart of Sikkim’ and had become a way of life here.
“I am happy to state that the journey which began in the year 1975 has been most fulfilling and rewarding,” the Governor conveys in his State Day message,
The Governor further said that the will of the people had prevailed in Sikkim and that democracy had now taken deep roots here. In this regard he said that this will of the people has been respected and each and every Sikkimese had been given an opportunity to live with dignity and respect.
“Political leaders should respect the dignity of all Sikkimese and I hope that the political leadership in the state always preserves this trend of culture, democracy and good-governance and not do anything that will damage this fabric that is taking Sikkim to even greater heights ,” the Governor said.
He also stated that democracy did not only mean holding elections and remarked that it was good governance that had led Sikkim to where it stands today. He added that good governance did not come by chance and that the people of the state willed and demanded it and that this was possible only in a true democracy.
While remarking that education was in transformation in Sikkim, the Governor said that as an individual he ‘admired’ the Chief Minister’s initiative of selecting students from the remotest of villages on merit and sending them on full scholarship to the best public schools. He said that he believed that if these children were given the right guardianship along with the facilities then a time would come when every Sikkimese will be seen as a person of merit, someone with dignity who should be respected.
“In 1975 only 16 percent of the total population was educated but now less than 16 percent are illiterate here. It is numbers such as these in areas of much needed intervention that make me admire the present leadership. There will be a day when we will have zero illiteracy in Sikkim, no poor, all pucca houses and creation of dependable workers , and that day is not far,” expressed the Governor.
Amongst areas that needed further attention, the Governor said that a need to collectively take advantage of the resources within and outside the state for it’s and the country’s development was an important area. Further, while stating that the work of the civil police within the state was good he urged for the need for the police to be prepared to tackle the crimes that come with prosperity.
The Governor also spoke on the need to improve the work culture in government offices and develop the collective will to have pride in work. Similarly, he also pointed out the need to ponder on the subject of the high number of suicide in the state along with the high rate of substance abuse.
In his address the Chief Minister stated, “In the past 38 years Sikkim has been an important part of the country. You all know what Sikkim was before and what it has become now. Now our responsibility and duty is to make the Sikkim of tomorrow. The responsibility lies in our hands, every mode through which we contribute towards the development of the nation will speak volumes about our contribution. Be it education, health, basic amenities, hydel, tourism, social justice and basically all round development, all the areas where we are contributing are being recognized. 22.8 percent is our growth rate, this we have to maintain and further strengthening this rate is our duty as Sikkimese and Indians. Our work should speak for itself.”