1. Sikkim CM Prem Singh Tamang and Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya joined the 71st NEC Plenary in Shillong.
2. Chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, the meeting included participation from Governors, Chief Ministers, and Union Ministers.
3. The event focused on discussions related to the North Eastern Council and regional development.
Shillong, Jan 19: Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang, along with Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya, participated in the 71st Plenary of the North Eastern Council (NEC) held at the State Convention Centre in Shillong, Meghalaya.
The meeting, chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, saw the attendance of Governors and Chief Ministers from North Eastern States, Union Minister of DoNER G Kishan Reddy, Minister of State, DoNER, BL Verma, and senior officers from the Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of DoNER, Government of India.
Accompanied by VB Pathak, Chief Secretary, Government of Sikkim, SD Dhakal, Secretary CMO, and Rinzing Chewang Bhutia, Secretary, Planning and Development Department, Government of Sikkim, Chief Minister Tamang expressed warm greetings to Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Chairman of the North-East Council.
He conveyed gratitude to the Central Government for its continuous support and guidance in the development of the North-East region.
Addressing the recent crisis in Sikkim caused by a catastrophic flood on October 3-4, 2023, Chief Minister Tamang expressed heartfelt thanks to the Prime Minister, Union Home Minister, and the Central Government for their thorough and timely support.
A joint memorandum for temporary restoration and permanent reconstruction of affected areas has been submitted to the Government of India, with anticipated prompt action.
Chief Minister Tamang appealed to the Ministry of DoNER and the North-East Council for additional funds to expedite restoration activities crucial for the State’s economy, considering the extended timeline for completing PMGSY work until March 2024.
He drew attention to the weakened Retaining Wall and visible cracks at Pakyong Greenfield Airport, urging the Government of India for an early solution.
Highlighting the “Mero Rukh Mero Santati” programme, an environmental conservation initiative of planting 108 trees for every newborn child, Chief Minister Tamang noted its global recognition during COP’ 28 held in Dubai in November-December 2023.
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Emphasizing the importance of the Multi-Modal Corridor connecting Sikkim and Eastern Nepal for national security, the Chief Minister discussed Sikkim’s leadership in the overall index of Sustainable Development Goals.
He called upon the Central Government to adopt a new industrial investment policy to encourage vital manufacturing employment in the North-East regions.
Chief Minister Tamang reiterated the demand for incorporating the Limboo Tamang community into the Scheduled Tribe category and the longstanding demand to bring the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorjee to Sikkim.
Expressing gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Central Government for the “Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra,” Chief Minister Tamang also extended congratulations on the historic consecration of Ram Lalla in the newly constructed Ram Mandir at Ayodhya, scheduled for January 22.
