Blog

In the benign presence of Shri Satpal Ji Maharaj, I attended the ‘Bhoomi Poojan’ ceremony for construction of ‘Manav Dharma Ashram’ at Namcheybong, Pakyong, today. In my brief address, I expressed my profound pleasure for the presence of Shri Satpal Ji Maharaj for such a pious occasion in the State, and appealed to the people from the area to extend all possible support to ensure that the construction of the Ashram goes on smoothly for its timely completion in a year’s time. I hope to see the inauguration next year […]

Inaugurated the 3-day long ‘Rabong Cho-Dzo Fest 2018’, organised at Cho-Dzo lake premises. Commending the organizers for the festival, I stated that the newly up-graded Cho-Dzo lake enhances the tourist attraction of not only Rabongla but also the entire South District. It will also help to boost tourism- related activities in Rabongla and create innumerable employment avenues. Our youth should grab this opportunity and take up tourism as profession for gainful returns. The Government has constructed this infrastructure for the benefit of the local people. Hence, now the people of […]

I visited Bologna University, the oldest University of the world at Bologna, Italy and Instituto Dante Alighieri & Instituto Voltaire in Milan on 19th & 20th October,2018. Founded in 1088, the University is the oldest functional University in the world to undertake courses as varied as Architecture, Cultural Heritage, Classical Philosophy and Italian Studies, Physics and Astronomy, Agriculture and Food Science etc. On arrival at the University, I was happy to be accorded a warm welcome by the Staff of the Vice Rector for International Relations Ms. Maria Chiara De […]

I addressed the Italian Parliamentarians in Rome on 15th October, 2018 at the Italian Chamber of Deputies – Press Room in the Italian Parliament. In my address, I reassured that if Sikkim could achieve the goal of 100 percent conversion from chemical based agriculture to organic agriculture, there is no reason why policy makers, farmers and community leaders cannot do the same elsewhere in the world. I also recounted the hardships and difficulties faced by us in the transformation process and said that due to strong political will, hard work […]

It was an honour and a privilege to receive the prestigious Future Policy Gold Award at the United Nations FAO Headquarter in Rome, Italy on 15th October,2018. Congratulating me for making Sikkim the first Organic State of the world, Ms. Maria Helena Semedo Deputy Director- General of the United Nations graciously complimented me for the leadership, political will and commitment.In her address, she said “I am very proud to announce this year’s Future Policy Award goes to Sikkim State Policy on Organic Farming and Sikkim Organic Mission. Under Sikkim’s Chief […]

I felt extremely happy to receive the 6th JRD Tata Memorial Awards conferred by The Population Foundation of India , which had selected Sikkim as the best performing State under ‘high focus category – North East’ at New Delhi today. The selection was made on the basis of index of 35 indicators recommended by the Technology Advisory Committee for the awards with strong bearing on reproductive health, gender equity, family planning, water, sanitation and hygiene, women’s empowerment, gender-based violence and fertility of the population. In my acceptance address, I said […]

Attended the Eastern and North-Eastern Region Policy Dialogue- Making Liveable Cities: Challenges and Way Forward, themed ‘Environmental Sustainability and Climate Change in Liveable Cities’ at Chintan Bhawan today. Following are some of the highlights of my address:- 1. Urbanization is a well-known modern phenomenon and it is only expected to intensify. However, the rapidness with which the rural to urban migration is taking place today has strained the carrying capacity of urban townships and cities. In this context, it is important to think about how we can make our cities […]

Inaugurated the three-day International Bio-diversity Congress being held at Forest Research Institute, Dehradun today. In my address, I urged all state governments to ban the use of chemical fertilizers and requested the ongoing Congress to adopt similar resolution, calling upon every other state in the Country to follow organic farming practices by effectively banning use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides and insecticides. This would be a very bold yet appropriate policy intervention to save the earth from ultimate devastation. I highlighted the fact that an alarming 28% decline of global biodiversity […]

I felt extremely happy and pleased to be a part of the inauguration of Pakyong Airport by Hon’ble Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi ji, who dedicated the Airport to the Nation today. It is indeed a historic and a proud moment for the people of Sikkim to see the State make its entry in the aviation map of the Nation. In my brief address, on behalf of the Sikkimese people, I once again extended a warm welcome to the Hon’ble Prime Minister and thanked him for presenting us this wonderful […]

I attended the concluding day of the two-day session of Sikkim Legislative today. The House passed the Bills introduced yesterday. Speaking on the Sikkim Regulation of Transfer of Land (Amendment) Bill, I said that the amendment would though bring an immediate relief to the people, it will not be beneficial in the long run. The State Government had brought about the legislation for restricting the sale of land within the people of same communities with the view to protect the land of people belonging to all communities. We did not […]