SIKKIM SIGNS UP FOR HOUSING FOR ALL BY 2022 COMMITMENT

GANGTOK, 07 July: Minister Urban Development & Housing Department & Food & Civil Supplies Department, NK Subba attended the National Conclave of Ministers & Workshops of Secretaries on "Urban Governance & Housing for All: Opportunities & Challenges" held on  03 July 2014 at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi.
The Minister was accompanied by the Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Tobjor Dorji and the Principal Chief Engineer, GT Bhutia along with other officials from the Department. The conclave was chaired by Union Minister for Urban Development & Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation, Government of India, M Venkaiah Naidu.
As per a press release, the event was held to deliberate on the approaches to urban development and substantiate the inputs received from all the States for the road ahead. “Housing for All by 2022” was highlighted as one of the top priority of Government of India and also a dream project of the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi.
The conclave was preceded by an 11-hour marathon meeting on 02 July which was attended by the Commissioner-cum-Secretary, UDHD with other officials. The Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Mr Dorji gave an account of the ongoing programmes and the achievements under the Ministry of Urban Development & Ministry of Housing & Urban Poverty Alleviation.
He also flagged the issues faced by Sikkim in implementing such projects and programmes and brought to the notice the interventions needed to be addressed by the Government of India, the release mentions.
On the second day, the Minister assured the commitment of the Government of Sikkim in implementation of all projects and programmes with assistance from the Central Government. He stressed that the central Government should take into consideration the uniqueness of the State of Sikkim in regard to its special status and its geographical location and incorporate all the social, technical and financial issues highlighted by  Government of Sikkim for smooth implementation of such projects. Since all North-Eastern and special category States face similar problems, the issues highlighted by Sikkim was seconded by them too.
The Minister, Urban Development and Housing & Poverty Alleviation in his closing remarks assured that the issues highlighted by the States would be taken into consideration while framing future policies and programmes. The conclave ended with all the States adopting the Declaration: “Housing for All by 2022”.