News & Announcement
Institute of Transforming Sikkim (ITS) convenes coordination meeting at Namchi district.
Namchi, August 30th(IPR): The Institute of Transforming Sikkim (ITS) convened a coordination meeting under the chairmanship of Vice Chairman(ITS) Mr Chandra Prakash Sharma at Town Hall, today.
The Institute of Transforming Sikkim (ITS), established by the Government of Sikkim under the visionary leadership of Chief Minister Mr Prem Singh Tamang, is the state's premier think tank. It unites senior policymakers, experienced professionals and diverse stakeholders to promote evidence-based decision-making and innovative planning. With ITS forward-looking approach, it is set to play a crucial role in shaping Sikkim's development journey and driving effective implementation of polices for the state's progress.
Vice Chairman Mr Chandra Prakash Sharma in his address, extended heartfelt gratitude to the District Administrative Centre (DAC), Namchi for the warm welcome and exemplifying teamwork as a united district. He reiterated that ITS functions as a policy frame-work and a roadmap to the Government, with the vision of leading sikkim towards “Sunaulo Samriddha ani Samarth Sikkim”.
He urged all the officials to respect work culture, assume responsibilities seriously and adopt a collective measure to strengthen governance. Issues such as vacant government properties, improper structural management and avenues to boost tourism as a major revenue source was discussed.
He stressed the need for early identification and resolution of problems such as, improper documentation of government properties, misuse of government allotted homestays and barren agricultural lands. He further directed all the departmental heads to submit detailed reports to the district administration to ensure solution oriented coordination with the ITS.
The meeting also featured an open house discussion session. Wherein Member ITS, Ms Namrata Thapa congratulated the District Collector and the entire team of NITI Aayog under Namchi district for emerging as one of the best performing districts under the Aspirational Block Programme and for the success of the launch of ‘Prayas’.
While talking about the success of the district, she also highlighted the upcoming 500 bedded district hospital in Namchi as a major milestone in the health sector. She expressed concern over the growing need for more trained manpower and skilled technicians for handling advanced equipments in the upcoming district hospital.
She also took the opportunity to talk about the rising concern over the increasing cases of suicide in the state and suggested effective and preventive awareness measures.
Member ITS, Mr Bharat Chandra Basistha emphasized the importance of environmentally conscious and sustainable planning. He stressed that every government project must minimize ecological damage and cited that Jal Jeewan Mission as a fundamental model for future development. In agriculture, he proposed the establishment of buffer cold storage facilities to preserve produce and support farmers across the district.
Member ITS, Ms Ganga Devi Pradhan presented an overview of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Index and Indicators. She stressed that ITS plays a crucial role in framing polices to transform Sikkim’s vision of “Viksit Sikkim to Viksit Bharat 2047”.
She underscored the importance of effective waste and bio-medical waste management and segregation. She highlighted public health engineering initiatives like Dhara Vikas and Amrit Sarovar, which focuses on underground springs through GIS- based Mapping techniques. She also stressed the urgent need for an upgraded sewerage system and a Sewerage Treatment Plant (STP) in the district in the coming future.
While, Zilla Adhakshya Namchi Ms Anjeeta Rajalim also took the opportunity to address the issue of wild animals damaging the cultivated crops. She urged the need for innovative measures to address the problem without hampering the ecological balance.
Earlier, Joint Director Planning and Development Department Mr Palden Pazo presented a Power Point Presentation (PPT) introducing the objectives of the ITS.
Followed by a PPT Presentation by the District Collector Namchi Ms Anupa Tamling who laid out sector- wise proposals covering health, education, roads and bridges, agriculture, labor and tourism.
She emphasized the shortage of trained manpower, the urgent need for more Fair Weather Roads (FRWs) for better connectivity, renovation of Village Level Worker (VLW) Centres and greater Digitization for better transparency and e-governance.
On tourism, she particularly highlighted the need to review unused or underutilized government infrastructure such as the Namchi-Rockgarden-Samdruptse ropeway project as an example of asset turned to liability.
The ITS members lauded the District Collector’s presentation for being both research-driven and insightful, offering a realistic picture of ground-level challenges and opportunities.
The session today was seen as a true example of aligning district priorities with the broader vision of transforming Sikkim.
Present during the meeting were Zilla Adhakshya Namchi Ms Anjeeta Rajalim, Chairman (NMC) Mr Ganesh Rai, Vice-chairman (NMC) Ms Sabitri Tamang, President (NJNP) Mr Pavitra Manav, Vice-President (NJNP) Ms Manjari Rai, all six members of the ITS Ms Ganga Devi Pradhan, Ms Namrata Thapa, Dr Sangay Dorjee Bhutia, Dr Bharat Chandra Basistha, Mr James Saring Lepcha, Dr Neeraj Adhakari, OSD to MLA Namchi-Singhithang Mr SJ Lepcha, ADCs, SDMs and HoO’S from line departments.
The Institute of Transforming Sikkim (ITS), established by the Government of Sikkim under the visionary leadership of Chief Minister Mr Prem Singh Tamang, is the state's premier think tank. It unites senior policymakers, experienced professionals and diverse stakeholders to promote evidence-based decision-making and innovative planning. With ITS forward-looking approach, it is set to play a crucial role in shaping Sikkim's development journey and driving effective implementation of polices for the state's progress.
Vice Chairman Mr Chandra Prakash Sharma in his address, extended heartfelt gratitude to the District Administrative Centre (DAC), Namchi for the warm welcome and exemplifying teamwork as a united district. He reiterated that ITS functions as a policy frame-work and a roadmap to the Government, with the vision of leading sikkim towards “Sunaulo Samriddha ani Samarth Sikkim”.
He urged all the officials to respect work culture, assume responsibilities seriously and adopt a collective measure to strengthen governance. Issues such as vacant government properties, improper structural management and avenues to boost tourism as a major revenue source was discussed.
He stressed the need for early identification and resolution of problems such as, improper documentation of government properties, misuse of government allotted homestays and barren agricultural lands. He further directed all the departmental heads to submit detailed reports to the district administration to ensure solution oriented coordination with the ITS.
The meeting also featured an open house discussion session. Wherein Member ITS, Ms Namrata Thapa congratulated the District Collector and the entire team of NITI Aayog under Namchi district for emerging as one of the best performing districts under the Aspirational Block Programme and for the success of the launch of ‘Prayas’.
While talking about the success of the district, she also highlighted the upcoming 500 bedded district hospital in Namchi as a major milestone in the health sector. She expressed concern over the growing need for more trained manpower and skilled technicians for handling advanced equipments in the upcoming district hospital.
She also took the opportunity to talk about the rising concern over the increasing cases of suicide in the state and suggested effective and preventive awareness measures.
Member ITS, Mr Bharat Chandra Basistha emphasized the importance of environmentally conscious and sustainable planning. He stressed that every government project must minimize ecological damage and cited that Jal Jeewan Mission as a fundamental model for future development. In agriculture, he proposed the establishment of buffer cold storage facilities to preserve produce and support farmers across the district.
Member ITS, Ms Ganga Devi Pradhan presented an overview of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Index and Indicators. She stressed that ITS plays a crucial role in framing polices to transform Sikkim’s vision of “Viksit Sikkim to Viksit Bharat 2047”.
She underscored the importance of effective waste and bio-medical waste management and segregation. She highlighted public health engineering initiatives like Dhara Vikas and Amrit Sarovar, which focuses on underground springs through GIS- based Mapping techniques. She also stressed the urgent need for an upgraded sewerage system and a Sewerage Treatment Plant (STP) in the district in the coming future.
While, Zilla Adhakshya Namchi Ms Anjeeta Rajalim also took the opportunity to address the issue of wild animals damaging the cultivated crops. She urged the need for innovative measures to address the problem without hampering the ecological balance.
Earlier, Joint Director Planning and Development Department Mr Palden Pazo presented a Power Point Presentation (PPT) introducing the objectives of the ITS.
Followed by a PPT Presentation by the District Collector Namchi Ms Anupa Tamling who laid out sector- wise proposals covering health, education, roads and bridges, agriculture, labor and tourism.
She emphasized the shortage of trained manpower, the urgent need for more Fair Weather Roads (FRWs) for better connectivity, renovation of Village Level Worker (VLW) Centres and greater Digitization for better transparency and e-governance.
On tourism, she particularly highlighted the need to review unused or underutilized government infrastructure such as the Namchi-Rockgarden-Samdruptse ropeway project as an example of asset turned to liability.
The ITS members lauded the District Collector’s presentation for being both research-driven and insightful, offering a realistic picture of ground-level challenges and opportunities.
The session today was seen as a true example of aligning district priorities with the broader vision of transforming Sikkim.
Present during the meeting were Zilla Adhakshya Namchi Ms Anjeeta Rajalim, Chairman (NMC) Mr Ganesh Rai, Vice-chairman (NMC) Ms Sabitri Tamang, President (NJNP) Mr Pavitra Manav, Vice-President (NJNP) Ms Manjari Rai, all six members of the ITS Ms Ganga Devi Pradhan, Ms Namrata Thapa, Dr Sangay Dorjee Bhutia, Dr Bharat Chandra Basistha, Mr James Saring Lepcha, Dr Neeraj Adhakari, OSD to MLA Namchi-Singhithang Mr SJ Lepcha, ADCs, SDMs and HoO’S from line departments.