Letters:-
Innovation is the buzzword right now. Countries and leaders all over the world are looking for innovative ways and measures to develop and progress. Sikkim is no different. But what makes Sikkim different is that innovation has already found roots in Sikkim thanks to the imaginative man called Pawan Chamling. Critics I am sure will pooh pooh this claim. They will go to any extent to cry hoarse that Chamling is corrupt. They rake up issues like hydel projects and unemployment. But sadly these detractors forget to see the innovation that surrounds them!
Sikkim has been a land of faith and divinity since time immemorial. Buddhism was introduced in Sikkim around 600 years ago. No Buddhist household in Sikkim is complete without the installation of the statues of Buddha, the Guru Padmasambhava and Chenrezig on their altar. It was Chamling who made statues of the three deities in three different parts of Sikkim - the 135 feet tall statue of Guru Padmasambhava at Samdruptse in Namchi, the 130 feet tall statue of Buddha at Tathagat Tsal at Ravangla and the upcoming 130 feet tall statue of Chenrezig at Sangachoeling monastery in west Sikkim.
All of us know about Chaar Dhaam and the twelve jyotirlings. But nobody before Chamling thought of bringing them together in one place. It went on to bag the most innovative tourism product award in 2012. Yes innovative is the word!
Sikkim today has earned an enviable and a towering position for itself in terms of all the innovative programs, innovative models and all round development in the country.
Every day thousands of wild animals are elsewhere killed for commercial purposes. But killing of wildlife has been totally banned in Sikkim. Everywhere else trees are being felled, forests are being destroyed. In Sikkim felling of trees has been banned. Grazing has also been banned in Sikkim. Sikkim is taking giant steps in ecotourism to everyone’s delight except the detractors again.
Sikkim is all set to go 100% organic by 2015. Organic farming has made farmers help transit from traditional farming to organic farming by relying on modern technology. This move has made agriculture an attractive and lucrative profession for the youth as well.
Conservation and protection of the environment has been the topmost priority of the Government. Sikkim has been successful in giving the message that material and infrastructural development is possible without compromising on the eco system, environment and bio-diversity. The four percent increase in the forest cover of Sikkim over the last two decades speaks for itself. It is also in record.
Chamling has been a crusader for good health and quality education as health and education are the cornerstone of development. They are also the best indicators of human development. So it does not come as a surprise that some of the most innovative health care initiatives have sprung from his vision. Sikkim was the first State in the country to introduce MDR and Hepatitis B vaccines. The vaccine for cervical cancer will be launched in January 2014 which will also be a pioneering step in the whole country. The CATCH programme, a totally unique programme and the first in the country is the forerunner in the health sector. CATCH has emerged as a perfect model of preventive and curative healthcare. A plethora of other healthcare programmes have been launched in Sikkim that will further the vision of a healthy and disease-free Sikkim.
The allocation of twenty percent of the budget for education along with a number of scholarship schemes right from school to post graduate level to reward merit has been a high point of the Sikkim Democratic Front Government. Skill development and capacity building have been lauded by leaders in the highest position. Chamling has not only invested a part of the budget but also complements hopes, dreams and aspirations for an educated and intellectual Sikkimese society.
Chamling is an undisputed exponent of social justice. By his own admission, ‘democracy is incomplete without social justice.’ Today in Sikkim every community, every religion enjoys peace and security. But Chamling silenced all cynics and broke all grounds when he made the historical announcement of fifty percent reservation for women in Panchayat elections.
Decentralisation and devolution of power have become a concrete reality only because one man dared to defy the age old traditions and norms. Inequality and discrimination are now a thing of the past in Sikkim. Here is a man who dared to think out of the box and brought about sweeping reforms for Sikkim and the Sikkimese people at the risk of being ridiculed and mocked and being labelled as over ambitious. I can’t help but borrow a few lines from Rabindranath Tagore’s patriotic song Ekla Cholo Re:
‘Jodi thor dak shoone ko na ashi tobe ekla cholo re
Tobe ekla cholo, ekla cholo, ekla cholo, ekla cholo re’
(If no one answers your call,
Then walk alone, (be not afraid) walk alone my friend)
Sikkim has been named as the best region to visit in 2014 by a leading global travel guide, with Brazil emerging as the top destination in terms of countries. Lonely Planet's 'Best in Travel 2014' has come out with a list of top 10 destinations in different categories such as best countries to visit, best regions to visit, best cities to visit and many more such guiding lists for travel next year. It always feels good when acknowledgement and appreciation come from the least expected sources. Isn’t it? And the icing on the cake came with the article by Swaminathan S Anklesaria Aiyar, the consulting editor of The Economic Times, in his column, “Swaminomics” in the Times of India last week where he said that ‘an ideal lightweight should have some stature, without having the potential to grow and threaten other bosses. Such a candidate will not come to mind quickly: obscurity will be a qualification. So will a reputation for honesty, given today’s huge public anger over corruption.
One person who meets these requirements is the little-known Pawan Kumar Chamling, chief minister of Sikkim. Narendra Modi boasts of winning three state elections in a row, but Chamling has won four in a row. On the fourth occasion, in 2009, Chamling won no less than 30 of the 32 Assembly seats in Sikkim, a remarkable performance. This combination of non-threatening acceptability, good performance and honest reputation will not be easy to beat. This is no guarantee that he will get the top job. But he should be near the top of any list of dark horses in 2014.’
Perhaps I need not write any further.
Daniel Rai, Hingdam
Innovation is the buzzword right now. Countries and leaders all over the world are looking for innovative ways and measures to develop and progress. Sikkim is no different. But what makes Sikkim different is that innovation has already found roots in Sikkim thanks to the imaginative man called Pawan Chamling. Critics I am sure will pooh pooh this claim. They will go to any extent to cry hoarse that Chamling is corrupt. They rake up issues like hydel projects and unemployment. But sadly these detractors forget to see the innovation that surrounds them!
Sikkim has been a land of faith and divinity since time immemorial. Buddhism was introduced in Sikkim around 600 years ago. No Buddhist household in Sikkim is complete without the installation of the statues of Buddha, the Guru Padmasambhava and Chenrezig on their altar. It was Chamling who made statues of the three deities in three different parts of Sikkim - the 135 feet tall statue of Guru Padmasambhava at Samdruptse in Namchi, the 130 feet tall statue of Buddha at Tathagat Tsal at Ravangla and the upcoming 130 feet tall statue of Chenrezig at Sangachoeling monastery in west Sikkim.
All of us know about Chaar Dhaam and the twelve jyotirlings. But nobody before Chamling thought of bringing them together in one place. It went on to bag the most innovative tourism product award in 2012. Yes innovative is the word!
Sikkim today has earned an enviable and a towering position for itself in terms of all the innovative programs, innovative models and all round development in the country.
Every day thousands of wild animals are elsewhere killed for commercial purposes. But killing of wildlife has been totally banned in Sikkim. Everywhere else trees are being felled, forests are being destroyed. In Sikkim felling of trees has been banned. Grazing has also been banned in Sikkim. Sikkim is taking giant steps in ecotourism to everyone’s delight except the detractors again.
Sikkim is all set to go 100% organic by 2015. Organic farming has made farmers help transit from traditional farming to organic farming by relying on modern technology. This move has made agriculture an attractive and lucrative profession for the youth as well.
Conservation and protection of the environment has been the topmost priority of the Government. Sikkim has been successful in giving the message that material and infrastructural development is possible without compromising on the eco system, environment and bio-diversity. The four percent increase in the forest cover of Sikkim over the last two decades speaks for itself. It is also in record.
Chamling has been a crusader for good health and quality education as health and education are the cornerstone of development. They are also the best indicators of human development. So it does not come as a surprise that some of the most innovative health care initiatives have sprung from his vision. Sikkim was the first State in the country to introduce MDR and Hepatitis B vaccines. The vaccine for cervical cancer will be launched in January 2014 which will also be a pioneering step in the whole country. The CATCH programme, a totally unique programme and the first in the country is the forerunner in the health sector. CATCH has emerged as a perfect model of preventive and curative healthcare. A plethora of other healthcare programmes have been launched in Sikkim that will further the vision of a healthy and disease-free Sikkim.
The allocation of twenty percent of the budget for education along with a number of scholarship schemes right from school to post graduate level to reward merit has been a high point of the Sikkim Democratic Front Government. Skill development and capacity building have been lauded by leaders in the highest position. Chamling has not only invested a part of the budget but also complements hopes, dreams and aspirations for an educated and intellectual Sikkimese society.
Chamling is an undisputed exponent of social justice. By his own admission, ‘democracy is incomplete without social justice.’ Today in Sikkim every community, every religion enjoys peace and security. But Chamling silenced all cynics and broke all grounds when he made the historical announcement of fifty percent reservation for women in Panchayat elections.
Decentralisation and devolution of power have become a concrete reality only because one man dared to defy the age old traditions and norms. Inequality and discrimination are now a thing of the past in Sikkim. Here is a man who dared to think out of the box and brought about sweeping reforms for Sikkim and the Sikkimese people at the risk of being ridiculed and mocked and being labelled as over ambitious. I can’t help but borrow a few lines from Rabindranath Tagore’s patriotic song Ekla Cholo Re:
‘Jodi thor dak shoone ko na ashi tobe ekla cholo re
Tobe ekla cholo, ekla cholo, ekla cholo, ekla cholo re’
(If no one answers your call,
Then walk alone, (be not afraid) walk alone my friend)
Sikkim has been named as the best region to visit in 2014 by a leading global travel guide, with Brazil emerging as the top destination in terms of countries. Lonely Planet's 'Best in Travel 2014' has come out with a list of top 10 destinations in different categories such as best countries to visit, best regions to visit, best cities to visit and many more such guiding lists for travel next year. It always feels good when acknowledgement and appreciation come from the least expected sources. Isn’t it? And the icing on the cake came with the article by Swaminathan S Anklesaria Aiyar, the consulting editor of The Economic Times, in his column, “Swaminomics” in the Times of India last week where he said that ‘an ideal lightweight should have some stature, without having the potential to grow and threaten other bosses. Such a candidate will not come to mind quickly: obscurity will be a qualification. So will a reputation for honesty, given today’s huge public anger over corruption.
One person who meets these requirements is the little-known Pawan Kumar Chamling, chief minister of Sikkim. Narendra Modi boasts of winning three state elections in a row, but Chamling has won four in a row. On the fourth occasion, in 2009, Chamling won no less than 30 of the 32 Assembly seats in Sikkim, a remarkable performance. This combination of non-threatening acceptability, good performance and honest reputation will not be easy to beat. This is no guarantee that he will get the top job. But he should be near the top of any list of dark horses in 2014.’
Perhaps I need not write any further.
Daniel Rai, Hingdam
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