Inclusion of Sikkim in North Eastern Council

Inclusion of Sikkim in North Eastern Council is one of the milestone achiement  of the ruling Sikkim Democratic Front Government. It has opened a floodgate of opportunities. With the inclusion of Sikkim in the North Eastern Council as its eighth member, a new chapter in the socio-economic development of the entire region has been opened by facilitating cross-regional partnership and meaningful cooperation among member States.  The State Government is grateful to the Central Government for appreciating the expediency, rationality and feasibility of such an administrative restructuring.  Under the restructured regime, Sikkim will not only benefit emotionally through a sense of being integrated into the national mainstream but  will also gain considerably with the sizeable infusion of  fund from the NEC Corpus which will contribute to sustained buoyancy in the economic development of the State. 

Long term benefits:

Sikkim can immediately access all the financial and development benefits including the non-lapsable pool funds and all the fiscal benefits that are especially extended to agriculture, industries and services sector in the NE region Sikkim would be able to avail of the institutional support that exists exclusively for the N-E States. Sikkim can take advantage of educational institutions like medical, IIT, engineering, management etc. socio-cultural institutions, banking and financial institutions, agriculture, industry and sports related institutions.

Sikkim will get many special projects under the 10th Plan  including  transport and communication, power, science & technology, health, manpower development, agriculture and allied services and industries and tourism.  Sikkim could play a very critical role in India's trade, tourism and other  economic co-operation with countries like Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and even Japan. This means there will be ample opportunities for Sikkim and Sikkimese people in terms of income, employment and other development activities. Sikkim would also be within the ambit of the international donors and development agencies who have been particularly trying to focus their activities in the NE regions of India.