News & Announcement
Prime Minister Mr Narendra Modi Virtually Addresses Sikkim’s Golden Jubilee, Commends State’s Progress
Gangtok, May 29 (IPR):
Amid a jubilant atmosphere at Paljor Stadium today, Prime Minister Mr Narendra Modi virtually greeted the Sikkimese people on the historic occasion of the state’s golden jubilee of statehood, marking five decades since its integration into the Indian Union in 1975 in Nepali, one of the official languages and the lingua franca of the state.
Due to inclement weather conditions, the Prime Minister could not attend the grand celebration at Paljor Stadium in person. However, he conveyed his heartfelt greetings and assured the people of Sikkim that he would visit the State within the year.
In his address, the Prime Minister extended warm congratulations and commended Sikkim’s remarkable progress over the past five decades.
Reflecting on the State’s transformation, the Prime Minister lauded Sikkim for emerging as a national exemplar in sustainable development, cultural unity, ecological preservation, and grassroots governance.
He highlighted the State’s pioneering achievement of becoming India’s first 100% organic state, noting that it had successfully upheld social harmony while making significant strides in agriculture, tourism, infrastructure, and environmental conservation.
Reaffirming the centre’s commitment to the holistic development of the Northeast under the Act East Policy, the Prime Minister emphasised that the region would continue to be a development priority over the next decade. He also referred to the recent North-East Investment Summit held in Delhi, where substantial investments were pledged across sectors, with Sikkim poised to benefit from this renewed momentum.
On the subject of connectivity, the Prime Minister spoke about the construction of nearly 400 kilometres of national highways in Sikkim over the past decade. He added that hundreds of kilometres of rural roads had also been completed, significantly improving access in remote areas.
Major projects such as the Sevoke–Rangpo railway line and the Gorakhpur–Siliguri Expressway were mentioned as key infrastructure works that would further boost connectivity and economic growth.
In the health sector, the Prime Minister highlighted the virtual inauguration of the newly constructed 500-bed District Hospital in Namchi, describing it as a significant step towards enhancing access to quality healthcare in the region.
He noted that more than 25,000 residents of Sikkim had already availed free treatment under central government schemes and added that citizens aged above 70 years had now been included under the ₹5 lakh free treatment coverage of the Ayushman Bharat initiative.
The Prime Minister praised the role of Sikkim’s farmers in promoting organic agriculture and noted that the State had recently begun exporting its organic produce to international markets.
He also shared that India’s first organic fishery cluster was being developed in Soreng district, reflecting global demand for sustainable and organic fish production. He added that this initiative would create new livelihood opportunities, particularly for the youth.
Turning to tourism, the Prime Minister outlined a vision to transform Sikkim from a popular domestic hill station into a globally recognised tourism destination, describing Sikkim tourism as a complete and diverse package.
Highlighting several key projects such as skywalks at Bhaley Dhunga, Uttarey, and Singshore Bridge, the Passenger Ropeway at Sangachoeling in Pelling, and the Statue of Bharat Ratna Atal Bihari Vajpayee at Atal Amrit Udhyan in Sangkhola, Prime Minister Modi remarked that these developments symbolise a new leap forward for the State’s tourism sector.
He added that infrastructure was being developed to support emerging forms of tourism, including conference tourism, wellness tourism, and concert tourism, with the Swarn Jayanti Cultural and Convention Centre in Gangtok serving as a key facility.
The Prime Minister stated that all the projects inaugurated today are in line with the broader vision of Viksit Bharat @2047, contributing significantly to the roadmap for India’s transformation into a developed nation by the centenary of its independence. He also commended the Government of Sikkim for its excellent performance in advancing this national goal.
The Prime Minister highlighted the immense potential of Sikkim’s youth in the field of sports and reiterated the government’s commitment to building a strong foundation through training, technology, and tournaments. He expressed confidence that these initiatives would enable the region’s youth to excel at both national and international levels.
He further spoke about the upcoming state-of-the-art sports complex in Gangtok, which is expected to nurture local talent and produce athletes capable of competing on the national stage. He noted that such efforts would play a key role in channeling the energy of the youth towards bringing glory to the nation, including on Olympic platforms.
Referring to the recent attack in Pahalgam, the Prime Minister said it had caused deep sorrow to many families and was a deliberate attempt to divide the nation. However, he emphasised that the perpetrators underestimated the country’s unity. He stated that through Operation Sindoor, India had delivered a strong and decisive response, demonstrating its strength and resolve. He acknowledged the bravery of the armed forces in safeguarding the nation and praised Sikkim’s longstanding tradition of patriotism and courage.
Concluding his address, Prime Minister Modi said that the golden jubilee of statehood was not only a celebration of past achievements but also a reaffirmation of the State’s aspirations for the future. He urged the people of Sikkim to move forward with renewed resolve and contribute actively to the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.
He assured the people of Sikkim of continued support from the central government, in close partnership with the state government, to ensure inclusive growth, enhanced connectivity, and sustainable prosperity.
Amid a jubilant atmosphere at Paljor Stadium today, Prime Minister Mr Narendra Modi virtually greeted the Sikkimese people on the historic occasion of the state’s golden jubilee of statehood, marking five decades since its integration into the Indian Union in 1975 in Nepali, one of the official languages and the lingua franca of the state.
Due to inclement weather conditions, the Prime Minister could not attend the grand celebration at Paljor Stadium in person. However, he conveyed his heartfelt greetings and assured the people of Sikkim that he would visit the State within the year.
In his address, the Prime Minister extended warm congratulations and commended Sikkim’s remarkable progress over the past five decades.
Reflecting on the State’s transformation, the Prime Minister lauded Sikkim for emerging as a national exemplar in sustainable development, cultural unity, ecological preservation, and grassroots governance.
He highlighted the State’s pioneering achievement of becoming India’s first 100% organic state, noting that it had successfully upheld social harmony while making significant strides in agriculture, tourism, infrastructure, and environmental conservation.
Reaffirming the centre’s commitment to the holistic development of the Northeast under the Act East Policy, the Prime Minister emphasised that the region would continue to be a development priority over the next decade. He also referred to the recent North-East Investment Summit held in Delhi, where substantial investments were pledged across sectors, with Sikkim poised to benefit from this renewed momentum.
On the subject of connectivity, the Prime Minister spoke about the construction of nearly 400 kilometres of national highways in Sikkim over the past decade. He added that hundreds of kilometres of rural roads had also been completed, significantly improving access in remote areas.
Major projects such as the Sevoke–Rangpo railway line and the Gorakhpur–Siliguri Expressway were mentioned as key infrastructure works that would further boost connectivity and economic growth.
In the health sector, the Prime Minister highlighted the virtual inauguration of the newly constructed 500-bed District Hospital in Namchi, describing it as a significant step towards enhancing access to quality healthcare in the region.
He noted that more than 25,000 residents of Sikkim had already availed free treatment under central government schemes and added that citizens aged above 70 years had now been included under the ₹5 lakh free treatment coverage of the Ayushman Bharat initiative.
The Prime Minister praised the role of Sikkim’s farmers in promoting organic agriculture and noted that the State had recently begun exporting its organic produce to international markets.
He also shared that India’s first organic fishery cluster was being developed in Soreng district, reflecting global demand for sustainable and organic fish production. He added that this initiative would create new livelihood opportunities, particularly for the youth.
Turning to tourism, the Prime Minister outlined a vision to transform Sikkim from a popular domestic hill station into a globally recognised tourism destination, describing Sikkim tourism as a complete and diverse package.
Highlighting several key projects such as skywalks at Bhaley Dhunga, Uttarey, and Singshore Bridge, the Passenger Ropeway at Sangachoeling in Pelling, and the Statue of Bharat Ratna Atal Bihari Vajpayee at Atal Amrit Udhyan in Sangkhola, Prime Minister Modi remarked that these developments symbolise a new leap forward for the State’s tourism sector.
He added that infrastructure was being developed to support emerging forms of tourism, including conference tourism, wellness tourism, and concert tourism, with the Swarn Jayanti Cultural and Convention Centre in Gangtok serving as a key facility.
The Prime Minister stated that all the projects inaugurated today are in line with the broader vision of Viksit Bharat @2047, contributing significantly to the roadmap for India’s transformation into a developed nation by the centenary of its independence. He also commended the Government of Sikkim for its excellent performance in advancing this national goal.
The Prime Minister highlighted the immense potential of Sikkim’s youth in the field of sports and reiterated the government’s commitment to building a strong foundation through training, technology, and tournaments. He expressed confidence that these initiatives would enable the region’s youth to excel at both national and international levels.
He further spoke about the upcoming state-of-the-art sports complex in Gangtok, which is expected to nurture local talent and produce athletes capable of competing on the national stage. He noted that such efforts would play a key role in channeling the energy of the youth towards bringing glory to the nation, including on Olympic platforms.
Referring to the recent attack in Pahalgam, the Prime Minister said it had caused deep sorrow to many families and was a deliberate attempt to divide the nation. However, he emphasised that the perpetrators underestimated the country’s unity. He stated that through Operation Sindoor, India had delivered a strong and decisive response, demonstrating its strength and resolve. He acknowledged the bravery of the armed forces in safeguarding the nation and praised Sikkim’s longstanding tradition of patriotism and courage.
Concluding his address, Prime Minister Modi said that the golden jubilee of statehood was not only a celebration of past achievements but also a reaffirmation of the State’s aspirations for the future. He urged the people of Sikkim to move forward with renewed resolve and contribute actively to the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.
He assured the people of Sikkim of continued support from the central government, in close partnership with the state government, to ensure inclusive growth, enhanced connectivity, and sustainable prosperity.