News & Announcement
Namchi Hosts Sarathi Sammellan 2025–2026
Namchi, 2August (IPR): In line with the vision of the Hon'ble Chief Minister, Shri Prem Singh Tamang (Golay), to build an "Addiction-Free Sikkim and a Mentally Healthy Sikkim," Sarathi Sammellan 2025–2026 was organised at PM SHRI Girls' Government Senior Secondary School, Namchi, on Saturday.
The programme, organised under Sarathi 1.0 with support from Titan Company Limited, aimed to promote positive behavioural change, mental well-being and social responsibility among children, youth and communities through sustained engagement with schools and villages.
The key objectives of the initiative included reducing substance misuse at the school and community levels, promoting mental well-being, and inculcating moral values among children and youth.
MLA, Namchi-Singhithang / Chairman Denzong Agriculture Co-operative Society, Mr Satish Chandra Rai, graced the occasion as the Chief Guest and he was accompanied by Advisor to (HCM) cum Chief Resource Person for Sarathi Organisation Shri Rohit Raj Maharaj, along with District Collector Namchi Ms Anupa Tamling as the guest of honor.
MLA, Mr Satish Chandra Rai, in his address, commended the Sarathi 1.0 initiative for creating awareness on substance abuse prevention and promoting mental well-being among the youth. He stated that the future of Sikkim rested in the hands of its young generation and urged them to lead healthy, disciplined and purposeful lives guided by strong values, greater vision and meaningful ambitions.
Encouraging the youth to channel their energy towards education, innovation, sports and community service, Shri Rai emphasised that true success lay in making positive choices rather than falling prey to addiction and substance abuse. He called upon every young individual to become a responsible citizen and contribute towards building a stronger and more progressive society.
He further urged everyone to work collectively in making Namchi not only a clean and green district but also one that stands as a model of development, discipline, compassion and excellence. He remarked that every citizen has an important role in shaping a vibrant and successful district through active participation and a shared sense of responsibility.
He lauded the District Administration, line departments, educational institutions, community organisations, volunteers and all stakeholders for their dedicated efforts in implementing various developmental and social welfare initiatives. He appreciated their unwavering commitment towards the well-being of the people and the overall progress of the State.
Concluding his address, he called upon everyone, especially the youth, to remain united in the mission of building an Addiction-Free, Mentally Healthy, Clean, Green and Prosperous Sikkim,
Shri Rohit Raj Maharaj, in his address, welcomed the Chief Guest, dignitaries, officials, principals, teachers, students, Self Help Groups (SHGs), Anganwadi Workers (AWWs), Sarathi volunteers, and all participants to Sarathi Sammellan 2025–2026. He stated that the Sammellan reaffirmed the collective commitment towards realising the Chief Minister Shri Prem Singh Tamang (Golay)’s vision of an “Addiction-Free Sikkim and a Mentally Healthy Sikkim.”
He said that Sarathi 1.0, has become a people-centric initiative promoting positive behavioural change, mental well-being and social responsibility among children, youth and communities. Emphasising that the fight against substance abuse required collective action, he highlighted the progress achieved under the programme across the State.
Sharing the achievements, Shri Maharaj informed that Pakyong District has trained 76 teachers, 126 student counsellors and 38 Sarathi Club members, while Soreng District has conducted multiple training batches involving 28 teachers and 28 select students per cohort. He further stated that Namchi District has trained 34 teachers from 17 Senior Secondary and Secondary Schools, along with 16 Sarathi Club members. He also noted that the Sarathi Samaj initiative had mobilised 117 community members in Pakyong, 98 in Soreng and 90 in Namchi to strengthen local anti-addiction efforts. Additionally, 37 ASHA workers in Soreng and 25 in Pakyong had been trained to support community-level substance abuse prevention and intervention.
Speaking on the State Government’s vision, Shri Maharaj said that the Chief Minister aspired to build a “Sunalo, Samriddha ani Samarth Sikkim,” where development is driven by healthy, educated and empowered citizens. He remarked that Nasha Mukta Sikkim was not merely a campaign but a social movement encouraging every individual to make responsible choices and become an ambassador of positive change.
Encouraging the students, he urged them to stay focused on their goals, uphold strong moral values and remain free from addiction, adding that the choices they make today would shape the future of Sikkim. He also appreciated the dedicated efforts of teachers, parents, SHGs, AWWs, community leaders and Sarathi volunteers in nurturing a safe and supportive environment for the younger generation.
Congratulating the prize winners and Sarathi teams being felicitated, Shri Maharaj called upon everyone to work together in transforming the vision of an Addiction-Free, Mentally Healthy, Sunalo, Samriddha ani Samarth Sikkim into a reality through collective responsibility and sustained community participation.
The programme further featured the felicitation of the APS to the Chief Minister, Mr Bishnu Prasad Sharma, DC (Namchi) Ms Anupa Tamling, Chief Education Officer (Namchi) Mr G.P. Sharma, the Department of Police and the Department of Social Welfare, in recognition of their outstanding commitment to public service, community welfare and the successful implementation of the Sarathi initiative.
As part of the programme, prizes were also distributed to the winners of the Reels and Skit Competitions conducted under the themes “Nasha Mukta Sikkim Starts from Me” for Self Help Groups (SHGs) and Anganwadi Workers (AWWs), and “Choices That Change Us – One Decision Can Destroy You, One Decision Can Define You” for school students. They are as follows
Namchi District
Winners of the School Skit Competition under the theme, “Choices That Change Us – One Decision Can Destroy You, One Decision Can Define You,” conducted from February to April 2026, are as follows:
1st Place: PM SHRI Girls’ Senior Secondary School
2nd Place: Rong Government Secondary School
3rd Place: New Secondary School
Winners of the SHG Skit Competition under the theme, “Nasha Mukt Sikkim Mo Bata Suru Huncha,” are as follows:
1st Place: Samriddhi SHG, Lower Rangang, Yangang Constituency
2nd Place: Namthang SHG
3rd Place: Suminam & Suraksha SHG, Upper Kopchey
Overall Winners of the State-Level Skit Making Competition under Sarathi 1.0 are as follows:
1st Place: Jorethang Daragaon AWC
2nd Place: Middle Majhigaon AWC
3rd Place: Dechenling AWC
Soreng District
Winners of the School Skit Competition are as follows:
1st Place: Kaluk Senior Secondary School
2nd Place: Chumbung Secondary School
3rd Place: Sawali Goan Secondary School
Winners of the Reels Competition are as follows:
1st Place: Sunlight SHG
2nd Place: Nari Shakti SHG
3rd Place: Lower Salangdan SHG
Today’s programme was attended by the APS to the Hon’ble Chief Minister, Shri Bishnu Prasad Sharma, Chairpersons,Advisors, Officers on Special Duty (OSDs),CLC Presidents, Zilla Panchayats, ADCs, SDMs, BDOs, Principal PM SHRI Girls’ Senior Secondary School, Ms Bandana Rai, Project Director (Sarathi 1.0) Mr Bishal Sharma, representatives of the Sikkim Government Association Group C & D, HoOs from various line departments, members of the All Sikkim Anganwadi Workers Association, ASHA Workers, members of the Anti Drug Squad (Melli) Drug Safai Abhiyan (Majhigaon) teachers, students, and members of the public in large numbers.
The programme, organised under Sarathi 1.0 with support from Titan Company Limited, aimed to promote positive behavioural change, mental well-being and social responsibility among children, youth and communities through sustained engagement with schools and villages.
The key objectives of the initiative included reducing substance misuse at the school and community levels, promoting mental well-being, and inculcating moral values among children and youth.
MLA, Namchi-Singhithang / Chairman Denzong Agriculture Co-operative Society, Mr Satish Chandra Rai, graced the occasion as the Chief Guest and he was accompanied by Advisor to (HCM) cum Chief Resource Person for Sarathi Organisation Shri Rohit Raj Maharaj, along with District Collector Namchi Ms Anupa Tamling as the guest of honor.
MLA, Mr Satish Chandra Rai, in his address, commended the Sarathi 1.0 initiative for creating awareness on substance abuse prevention and promoting mental well-being among the youth. He stated that the future of Sikkim rested in the hands of its young generation and urged them to lead healthy, disciplined and purposeful lives guided by strong values, greater vision and meaningful ambitions.
Encouraging the youth to channel their energy towards education, innovation, sports and community service, Shri Rai emphasised that true success lay in making positive choices rather than falling prey to addiction and substance abuse. He called upon every young individual to become a responsible citizen and contribute towards building a stronger and more progressive society.
He further urged everyone to work collectively in making Namchi not only a clean and green district but also one that stands as a model of development, discipline, compassion and excellence. He remarked that every citizen has an important role in shaping a vibrant and successful district through active participation and a shared sense of responsibility.
He lauded the District Administration, line departments, educational institutions, community organisations, volunteers and all stakeholders for their dedicated efforts in implementing various developmental and social welfare initiatives. He appreciated their unwavering commitment towards the well-being of the people and the overall progress of the State.
Concluding his address, he called upon everyone, especially the youth, to remain united in the mission of building an Addiction-Free, Mentally Healthy, Clean, Green and Prosperous Sikkim,
Shri Rohit Raj Maharaj, in his address, welcomed the Chief Guest, dignitaries, officials, principals, teachers, students, Self Help Groups (SHGs), Anganwadi Workers (AWWs), Sarathi volunteers, and all participants to Sarathi Sammellan 2025–2026. He stated that the Sammellan reaffirmed the collective commitment towards realising the Chief Minister Shri Prem Singh Tamang (Golay)’s vision of an “Addiction-Free Sikkim and a Mentally Healthy Sikkim.”
He said that Sarathi 1.0, has become a people-centric initiative promoting positive behavioural change, mental well-being and social responsibility among children, youth and communities. Emphasising that the fight against substance abuse required collective action, he highlighted the progress achieved under the programme across the State.
Sharing the achievements, Shri Maharaj informed that Pakyong District has trained 76 teachers, 126 student counsellors and 38 Sarathi Club members, while Soreng District has conducted multiple training batches involving 28 teachers and 28 select students per cohort. He further stated that Namchi District has trained 34 teachers from 17 Senior Secondary and Secondary Schools, along with 16 Sarathi Club members. He also noted that the Sarathi Samaj initiative had mobilised 117 community members in Pakyong, 98 in Soreng and 90 in Namchi to strengthen local anti-addiction efforts. Additionally, 37 ASHA workers in Soreng and 25 in Pakyong had been trained to support community-level substance abuse prevention and intervention.
Speaking on the State Government’s vision, Shri Maharaj said that the Chief Minister aspired to build a “Sunalo, Samriddha ani Samarth Sikkim,” where development is driven by healthy, educated and empowered citizens. He remarked that Nasha Mukta Sikkim was not merely a campaign but a social movement encouraging every individual to make responsible choices and become an ambassador of positive change.
Encouraging the students, he urged them to stay focused on their goals, uphold strong moral values and remain free from addiction, adding that the choices they make today would shape the future of Sikkim. He also appreciated the dedicated efforts of teachers, parents, SHGs, AWWs, community leaders and Sarathi volunteers in nurturing a safe and supportive environment for the younger generation.
Congratulating the prize winners and Sarathi teams being felicitated, Shri Maharaj called upon everyone to work together in transforming the vision of an Addiction-Free, Mentally Healthy, Sunalo, Samriddha ani Samarth Sikkim into a reality through collective responsibility and sustained community participation.
The programme further featured the felicitation of the APS to the Chief Minister, Mr Bishnu Prasad Sharma, DC (Namchi) Ms Anupa Tamling, Chief Education Officer (Namchi) Mr G.P. Sharma, the Department of Police and the Department of Social Welfare, in recognition of their outstanding commitment to public service, community welfare and the successful implementation of the Sarathi initiative.
As part of the programme, prizes were also distributed to the winners of the Reels and Skit Competitions conducted under the themes “Nasha Mukta Sikkim Starts from Me” for Self Help Groups (SHGs) and Anganwadi Workers (AWWs), and “Choices That Change Us – One Decision Can Destroy You, One Decision Can Define You” for school students. They are as follows
Namchi District
Winners of the School Skit Competition under the theme, “Choices That Change Us – One Decision Can Destroy You, One Decision Can Define You,” conducted from February to April 2026, are as follows:
1st Place: PM SHRI Girls’ Senior Secondary School
2nd Place: Rong Government Secondary School
3rd Place: New Secondary School
Winners of the SHG Skit Competition under the theme, “Nasha Mukt Sikkim Mo Bata Suru Huncha,” are as follows:
1st Place: Samriddhi SHG, Lower Rangang, Yangang Constituency
2nd Place: Namthang SHG
3rd Place: Suminam & Suraksha SHG, Upper Kopchey
Overall Winners of the State-Level Skit Making Competition under Sarathi 1.0 are as follows:
1st Place: Jorethang Daragaon AWC
2nd Place: Middle Majhigaon AWC
3rd Place: Dechenling AWC
Soreng District
Winners of the School Skit Competition are as follows:
1st Place: Kaluk Senior Secondary School
2nd Place: Chumbung Secondary School
3rd Place: Sawali Goan Secondary School
Winners of the Reels Competition are as follows:
1st Place: Sunlight SHG
2nd Place: Nari Shakti SHG
3rd Place: Lower Salangdan SHG
Today’s programme was attended by the APS to the Hon’ble Chief Minister, Shri Bishnu Prasad Sharma, Chairpersons,Advisors, Officers on Special Duty (OSDs),CLC Presidents, Zilla Panchayats, ADCs, SDMs, BDOs, Principal PM SHRI Girls’ Senior Secondary School, Ms Bandana Rai, Project Director (Sarathi 1.0) Mr Bishal Sharma, representatives of the Sikkim Government Association Group C & D, HoOs from various line departments, members of the All Sikkim Anganwadi Workers Association, ASHA Workers, members of the Anti Drug Squad (Melli) Drug Safai Abhiyan (Majhigaon) teachers, students, and members of the public in large numbers.
