Press Release
Press Release from the Social Welfare Department
Information & Public Relations Department
A delegation from the Government of Sikkim, led by Hon’ble Minister for Social Welfare, Shri Samdup Lepcha, participated in the two-day Chintan Shivir held on 18–19 February 2026 at Nalanda University, Rajgir, Bihar. The delegation included the Secretary, Ms. Sarika Pradhan; Chief Engineer, Shri Thinley Gyatso Chankapa; and Special Secretaries, Shri Satyen Pradhan and Smt. Bandana Chettri from the Social Welfare Department.
The Chintan Shivir was organised by the Ministry of Minority Affairs, Government of India, bringing together senior officials, policymakers, domain experts, and stakeholders from across the country to deliberate on key policy priorities and programme implementation strategies concerning minority welfare. The programme was chaired by Hon’ble Union Minister for Minority Affairs, Kiren Rijiju, along with Hon’ble Minister of State for Minority Affairs, George Kurian, and Ministers from Arunachal Pradesh, Tripura, Nagaland, Bihar, and Sikkim.
The event commenced on 18 February with the arrival and registration of participants, followed by briefing sessions and thematic presentations. Senior officials of the Ministry outlined the objectives and approach of the Chintan Shivir. Academic and institutional experts, including representatives from IFCI Venture Capital Funds Ltd., Foundation for Innovation and Technology Transfer of IIT Delhi, and Survey of India, shared valuable insights. The day concluded with thematic discussions and a cultural programme.
On 19 February, the programme began with a yoga session, followed by the inaugural ceremony attended by dignitaries from the Central and State Governments. During the inaugural session, key initiatives such as the PMJVK App, Haj Suvidha Smart Wrist Band, and the Ministry’s AI Chatbot Portal were launched by Hon’ble Union Minister Shri Kiren Rijiju.
A major highlight of the Shivir was the Focused Group Discussions held across five thematic areas:
• Infrastructure Development
• Socio-economic Empowerment
• Waqf Management
• Haj Management
• Scholarship Schemes
These discussions enabled officials to share field experiences, identify implementation challenges, and propose actionable policy recommendations.
In his address, Hon’ble Minister Shri Samdup Lepcha expressed sincere gratitude to the Ministry on behalf of the Government of Sikkim for sanctioning several health and educational projects that have significantly strengthened the healthcare and education systems for the benefit of minority populations in the State. He noted that these initiatives have contributed to meaningful improvements in the quality of life of minority communities.
He also highlighted the challenges faced by the State in the effective implementation of projects under PMJVK and PMVIKAS and requested the intervention and continued support of the Ministry of Minority Affairs. The Minister presented a status report on the Buddhist Development Project for Sikkim and sought further assistance for health, sports, and educational infrastructure development, as well as related interventions aimed at community well-being, youth empowerment, and inclusive social progress.
The concluding session focused on thematic consolidation and the way forward, with speakers presenting key findings, best practices, and priority action points emerging from the group deliberations.
The event concluded with closing remarks by Hon’ble Union Minister Shri Kiren Rijiju, who emphasised the importance of close coordination and collaborative engagement between the Union and State Governments. Citing Sikkim as an example, he lauded the State Department for its expeditious implementation of projects and encouraged other States to follow this exemplary approach by prioritising the timely completion of development initiatives. He reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to inclusive development, effective programme delivery, and strengthened institutional coordination for the welfare of minority communities across the country.
The Chintan Shivir was organised by the Ministry of Minority Affairs, Government of India, bringing together senior officials, policymakers, domain experts, and stakeholders from across the country to deliberate on key policy priorities and programme implementation strategies concerning minority welfare. The programme was chaired by Hon’ble Union Minister for Minority Affairs, Kiren Rijiju, along with Hon’ble Minister of State for Minority Affairs, George Kurian, and Ministers from Arunachal Pradesh, Tripura, Nagaland, Bihar, and Sikkim.
The event commenced on 18 February with the arrival and registration of participants, followed by briefing sessions and thematic presentations. Senior officials of the Ministry outlined the objectives and approach of the Chintan Shivir. Academic and institutional experts, including representatives from IFCI Venture Capital Funds Ltd., Foundation for Innovation and Technology Transfer of IIT Delhi, and Survey of India, shared valuable insights. The day concluded with thematic discussions and a cultural programme.
On 19 February, the programme began with a yoga session, followed by the inaugural ceremony attended by dignitaries from the Central and State Governments. During the inaugural session, key initiatives such as the PMJVK App, Haj Suvidha Smart Wrist Band, and the Ministry’s AI Chatbot Portal were launched by Hon’ble Union Minister Shri Kiren Rijiju.
A major highlight of the Shivir was the Focused Group Discussions held across five thematic areas:
• Infrastructure Development
• Socio-economic Empowerment
• Waqf Management
• Haj Management
• Scholarship Schemes
These discussions enabled officials to share field experiences, identify implementation challenges, and propose actionable policy recommendations.
In his address, Hon’ble Minister Shri Samdup Lepcha expressed sincere gratitude to the Ministry on behalf of the Government of Sikkim for sanctioning several health and educational projects that have significantly strengthened the healthcare and education systems for the benefit of minority populations in the State. He noted that these initiatives have contributed to meaningful improvements in the quality of life of minority communities.
He also highlighted the challenges faced by the State in the effective implementation of projects under PMJVK and PMVIKAS and requested the intervention and continued support of the Ministry of Minority Affairs. The Minister presented a status report on the Buddhist Development Project for Sikkim and sought further assistance for health, sports, and educational infrastructure development, as well as related interventions aimed at community well-being, youth empowerment, and inclusive social progress.
The concluding session focused on thematic consolidation and the way forward, with speakers presenting key findings, best practices, and priority action points emerging from the group deliberations.
The event concluded with closing remarks by Hon’ble Union Minister Shri Kiren Rijiju, who emphasised the importance of close coordination and collaborative engagement between the Union and State Governments. Citing Sikkim as an example, he lauded the State Department for its expeditious implementation of projects and encouraged other States to follow this exemplary approach by prioritising the timely completion of development initiatives. He reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to inclusive development, effective programme delivery, and strengthened institutional coordination for the welfare of minority communities across the country.
