PM’s address at Sikkim@50 event
New Delhi, May 29, 2025 : Governor of Sikkim Shri O.P. Prakash Mathur Ji, the popular Chief Minister of the state, my friend Prem Singh Tamang Ji, my colleagues in Parliament Dorjee Tshering Lepcha Ji, Dr. Indra Hang Subba Ji, other public representatives present here, ladies and gentlemen,
To the parents, brothers and sisters of our beloved Sikkim, who live in the cool shade of Kanchenjunga. Best wishes to all of you on the auspicious occasion of the Golden Jubilee of the State of Sikkim.
Today is a special day, this is the occasion of the Golden Jubilee of Sikkim's democratic journey. I wanted to be among you all and witness this celebration, this enthusiasm, this successful journey of 50 years. I also wanted to be a part of this celebration shoulder to shoulder with you. I left Delhi very early in the morning and reached Bagdogra, but the weather took me to your doorstep, but prevented me from going further and hence I did not get the opportunity to see you directly. But I am watching this scene, such a grand scene is in front of me, I can see people everywhere, what an amazing scene it is. It would have been so good if I was also among you, but I could not reach, I apologize to all of you. But as the Honorable Chief Minister has invited me, I assure you, as soon as the state government decides, I will definitely come to Sikkim, meet you all and I will also be a spectator of this successful journey of 50 years. Today is the day to celebrate the achievements of the last 50 years and you have organized a very good program. And I was continuously listening and watching that the Chief Minister himself is putting in a lot of energy to make this event memorable. He has also come to Delhi twice and invited me. I congratulate all of you on the 50th anniversary of the state of Sikkim.
Friends,
50 years ago, Sikkim had decided for a democratic future for itself. The people of Sikkim wanted to connect with the soul of India along with its geography. There was a belief that when everyone's voice is heard, everyone's rights are protected, then equal opportunities for development will be available. Today I can say that the belief of every family of Sikkim has continuously strengthened. And the country has seen its results in the form of Sikkim's progress. Sikkim is the pride of the country today. In these 50 years, Sikkim became a model of progress with nature. It became a huge garden of biodiversity. It became a 100% organic state. It emerged as a symbol of prosperity of culture and heritage. Today Sikkim is among those states of the country where per capita income is the highest. All these achievements have been achieved with the strength of all of you friends from Sikkim. In these 50 years, many such stars have emerged from Sikkim, who have illuminated the sky of India. Every community here has contributed to the culture and prosperity of Sikkim.
Friends,
After coming to power in 2014, I had said- Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas. Balanced development of the country is very important to make India developed. It should not happen that the benefits of development reach one region and the other is left behind. Every state, every region of India has its own specialty. Under this spirit, in the last decade, our government has brought the North East to the center of development. We are working on the resolution of 'Act East' with the thought of 'Act Fast'. Just a few days ago, the North East Investment Summit was held in Delhi. Big industrialists and big investors of the country participated in it. They have announced very big investments in the entire North East including Sikkim. This will create many big employment opportunities for the youth of North East in Sikkim in the coming times.
Friends,
Today's program also gives a glimpse of Sikkim's future journey. Today, the foundation stone of many projects related to the development of Sikkim has been laid and inaugurated. All these projects will expand the facilities of healthcare, tourism, culture and sports here. I congratulate all of you for all these projects.
Friends,
The entire North East, including Sikkim, is becoming a shining chapter in the development story of the new India. Where once the distance from Delhi was a wall in the path of development, now new doors of opportunities are opening from there. The biggest reason for this is the change in connectivity here, you people have seen this change happening before your eyes. There was a time when travelling anywhere for studies, treatment, employment was a big challenge. But the situation has changed a lot in the last ten years. During this period, about four hundred kilometers of new national highways have been built in Sikkim. Hundreds of kilometers of new roads have been built in the villages. With the construction of Atal Setu, Sikkim's connectivity with Darjeeling has improved. Work is also going on at a fast pace on the road connecting Sikkim to Kalimpong. And now it will become very easy to travel to Sikkim from the Bagdogra-Gangtok Expressway. Not only this, in the coming time we will also connect it to the Gorakhpur-Siliguri Expressway.
Friends,
Today, the campaign to connect the capital of every state in the North East with railways is progressing rapidly. The Sevok-Rangpo railway line will also connect Sikkim with the country's rail network. We are also trying to build ropeways where roads cannot be built. A short while ago, one such ropeway project was inaugurated. This will also increase the convenience of the people of Sikkim.
Friends,
In the last decade, India is moving ahead with new resolutions. And the goal of better healthcare has been our biggest priority. In the last 10-11 years, big hospitals have been built in every state of the country. AIIMS and medical colleges have expanded a lot. Today, a 500-bed hospital has been dedicated to you here. This hospital will ensure good treatment to even the poorest of the poor families.
Friends,
On one hand, our government is focusing on building hospitals, on the other hand, it is also making arrangements for cheap and better treatment. Under the Ayushman Bharat scheme, more than 25 thousand people from Sikkim have been treated free of cost. Now, all the elderly above 70 years of age in the entire country are getting free treatment up to Rs 5 lakh. Now, none of my family members in Sikkim will have to worry about their elders. Our government will treat them.
Friends,
Developed India will be built on four strong pillars. These pillars are poor, farmers, women and youth. Today, the country is continuously strengthening these pillars. On this occasion, I will praise the farmer brothers and sisters of Sikkim wholeheartedly. Today, the country is moving towards a new trend of agriculture, and Sikkim is at the forefront in it. Export of organic products is also increasing from Sikkim. Recently, the export of the famous Daale Khurasani chilli has started for the first time. In the month of March itself, the first consignment has reached abroad. In the coming time, many such products will be exported from here to foreign countries. The central government is working shoulder to shoulder with every effort of the state government.
Friends,
The central government has taken another step to further enrich the organic basket of Sikkim. The country's first organic fisheries cluster is being built here in Soreng district. This will give Sikkim a new identity in the country and the world. Along with organic farming, Sikkim will also be known for organic fishing. There is a huge demand for organic fish and fish products in the world. This will provide new opportunities in the field of fish farming for the youth here.
Friends,
Just a few days ago, the Governing Council of NITI Aayog met in Delhi. During this meeting, I said that every state should develop a tourist destination that makes its mark at the international level. Now the time has come that Sikkim should not just become a hill station but a global tourism destination! There is no comparison to the potential of Sikkim. Sikkim is a complete package of tourism! There is nature as well as spirituality here. There are lakes, waterfalls, mountains and Buddhist monasteries settled in the shade of peace. Kanchenjunga National Park, UNESCO World Heritage Site, not just India but the entire world is proud of this heritage of Sikkim. Today when a new skywalk is being built here, the Golden Jubilee Project is being inaugurated, Atal ji's statue is being unveiled, all these projects are symbols of Sikkim's new flight.
Friends,
Sikkim also has a lot of potential for adventure and sports tourism. Activities like trekking, mountain biking, high-altitude training can be easily done here. Our dream is to make Sikkim a hub for conference tourism, wellness tourism and concert tourism as well. Golden Jubilee Convention Centre, this is a part of the preparation for the future. I want the world's big artists to come and perform in the valleys of Gangtok, and the world should say "If nature and culture are together anywhere, it is our Sikkim!"
Friends,
We brought the G-20 Summit meetings to the North East so that the world could see its capabilities and understand its possibilities. I am happy that the NDA government in Sikkim is rapidly bringing this vision to reality.
Friends,
Today India is one of the biggest economic powers of the world. In the coming times, India will also become a sports superpower. And in realizing this dream, the youth power of North East and Sikkim has a very big role to play. This is the land that gave us football legends like Baichung Bhutia. This is Sikkim, from where Olympians like Tarundeep Rai emerged. Players like Jaslal Pradhan brought glory to India. Now our goal is to have a new champion emerge from every village, every town of Sikkim. There should not be just participation in sports, but the resolve to win! The new sports complex that is being built in Gangtok will become the birthplace of champions in the coming decades. Sikkim has been given special priority under the 'Khelo India' scheme. Help is being provided at every level - by identifying talent, training, technology and tournaments. I am confident that this energy, this enthusiasm of the youth of Sikkim will help India reach the Olympic podium.
Friends,
All of you in Sikkim know and understand the power of tourism. Tourism is not just entertainment, it is also a celebration of diversity. But what the terrorists did in Pahalgam was not just an attack on Indians, it was an attack on the soul of humanity, an attack on the spirit of brotherhood. The terrorists not only snatched the happiness of many of our families, they also conspired to divide us Indians. But today the whole world is seeing that India is more united than ever! By uniting, we have given a clear message to the terrorists and their patrons. They made the lives of our daughters hell by wiping off the vermilion from their foreheads, we have given a befitting reply to the terrorists with Operation Sindoor.
Friends,
Pakistan, enraged by the destruction of its terrorist bases, tried to attack our civilians and soldiers, but Pakistan's secret was revealed in that too. And we destroyed many of their airbases and showed them what India can do, how quickly it can do it, and how accurately it can do it.
Friends,
This milestone of 50 years of Sikkim as a state is an inspiration for all of us. This journey of development will now be even faster. Now we have 2047 in front of us, the year when the country will complete 100 years of independence
And this will be the time when Sikkim will complete 75 years of becoming a state. Therefore, we have to set a goal today, how will our Sikkim be at the milestone of 75? What kind of Sikkim do we all want to see, we have to make a roadmap, we have to ensure how we will move forward step by step with the vision of 25 years. We have to keep reviewing it from time to time. And how far are we from the target, how fast do we have to move forward. We have to move forward with new courage, new enthusiasm, new energy, we have to increase the speed of Sikkim's economy. We have to try that our Sikkim emerges as a wellness state. In this too, especially our youth should get more opportunities. We have to prepare the youth of Sikkim for local needs as well as the demand of the world. We have to create new opportunities for skill development here for the sectors in which there is demand for youth in the world.
Friends,
Let us all take a pledge that in the next 25 years we will take Sikkim to the highest level of development, heritage and global recognition. Our dream is that Sikkim should become a green model state not only of India but of the entire world. A state where every citizen has a concrete roof, a state where every home gets electricity from solar power, a state that flies a new flag in agro-startups, tourism startups, which makes its mark in the world in the export of organic food. A state where every citizen does digital transactions, which takes our identity to new heights of waste to wealth, the next 25 years are for achieving many such goals, for taking Sikkim to new heights on the global stage. Let us move ahead with this spirit and keep taking the legacy forward in this way. Once again, on behalf of the countrymen, I extend my best wishes to all the people of Sikkim on this important 50-year journey, on this important occasion. Thank you very much!