30 Years of Statehood In A Nutshell

April 1975 - The erstwhile Himalayan Kingdom Sikkim became the twenty­second State of India by the Thirty eighth Amendment Act of the Indian Constitution.

May 16, 1975 - Mr. Bipin Bihari Lal, ICS, sworn-in as the first Governor of Sikkim State.

May 16, 1975 - Kazi Lhendup Dorjee Khangsarpa, sworn-in as the first Chief Minister of Sikkim State and his Council of Ministers.

May 16, 1975 - First State Day observed all over the State.

May 29, 1975 - Anti-Corruption branch set up in Gangtok.

June 29, 1975 - Special Session of Sikkim Legislative Assembly held to ratify the Constitution (Thirty four Amendment) Bill, 1975.

July 23, 1975 - First brain surgery performed by Dr. S.T.Pulger in S.T.N.M. Hospital, Gangtok.

August 13, 1975 - Sikkim Prevention of Transfer and Unauthorized Use of Lands Ordinance, 1975 promulgated.

September 1, 1975 - Frontier Railway passenger Out agency opened at Sikkim Nationalised Transport Office at Gangtok.

November 11, 1975 - Mrs. Indira Gandhi, Prime Minister of India visited Sikkim.

December 21, 1975 - Chief Minister, Mr. L.D. Kazi, laid the foundation stone of Temi Tea Factory in South Sikkim.

February 17, 1976 - Mother Teresa visited Sikkim.

April 5, 1976 - Devastating fire gutted down about hundred houses at Singtam.

May 15, 1976 - Chief Minister, Kazi Lhendup Dorjee Khangsarpa inaugurated L.D. Kazi Bridge at Sirwani.

October 18, 1979 - Mr. N.B. Bhandari sworn in as Chief Minister of Sikkim.

October 28, 1979 - President of India, Mr.Neelam Sanjeeva Reddy visited Sikkim.

January 9,1981- Homi J.H. Taleyarkhan appointed as 2nd Governor of Sikkim.

April 13, 1981- The Union Finance Minister, Mr.R. Venkataraman inaugurated the Central Blood Bank of Sikkim.

November 6, 1981 - His Holiness the 16th Gyalwa Karmapa passes away.

January 30, 1982 - Chogyal Palden Thondup Namgyal passes away at the age of 59.

May 1, 1982 - First Helicopter service between Bagdogra and Gangtok inaugurated.

June 5,6, and 9,1982 - A portion of Tsongu Lake turned red.

August 22,1982 -Chief Minister, Mr. N.B. Bhandari inaugurated R.D.D. Complex at Jorethang.

  May 23, 1983 - The Eighth Finance Commission headed by Shri Y.B. Chavan visited Gangtok.

  June 13, 1983 - The 691 ft. long concrete bridge over the river Teesta at Melli inaugurated. The bridge was named after Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru.

  January 16, 1984 - Enforcement of the Cardamom Act, 1965 (42 of 1965) for the benefit of the poor cardamom growers of Sikkim.

  April 7, 1984 - A pioneering collaboration signed between Sikkim Research Institute of Tibetology and Nalanda Mahavihara at Patna in the presence of Dr. A.R. Kidwai, Governor of Bihar and Mr. Homi J.H. Taleyarkhan, Governor of Sikkim for collaboration in matters relating to exchange of scholars, information and other literary data.

  May 11, 1984 - Mr. B B Gurung sworn in as the third Chief Minister of Sikkim.

  May 25, 1984 - President Rule imposed in Sikkim.

  June 17,1984 - Kona Prabhakar Rao appointed as the third Governor of Sikkim.

  March 8, 1985 - Mr. N.B Bhandari re-elected and sworn in as the Chief Minister of Sikkim once again.

  May 31,1985 - Shri. Bhisma Narain Singh sworn in as the new Governor of Sikkim.

  October 7, 1987 - President Mr. R. Venkataraman inaugurated G.B. Pant Leprosy Hospital at Sajong, East Sikkim.

  October 9, 1988 - New Sikkim House inaugurated at New Delhi.

  August 1992 - Nepali language included in the Eighth Schedule of Indian Constitution

  May 17,1994 -Mr. Bhandari Government looses vote of confidence in the Sikkim Legislative Assembly.

  May 18, 1994. -Mr. Sanchaman Limboo sworn in as the Chief Minister of Sikkim.

  Limboo Government accepted the MandaI Commission Report.

Set up a Grievance Commission to look after the grievances of the Government employees regarding promotions, pay scale, transfers etc. Interim report of the Grievance Commission placed before the Government which decided that every employee in the State would get their next promotion in every ten years or will be given the next higher grade scale.

The Prime Minister Employment Assurance Scheme was implemented from July 1994 in a massive way to enable a member of each house in the State to secure Government employment.

Loyola  B. Ed College inaugurated at Namchi.

Pawan Chamling sworn in as the fifth Chief Minister of Sikkim on December 12, 1994.

100 per cent increase in daily wage of labourers.

Extra ordinary increase in the pay scale of State Government employees. Revised pay scale of Class IV employees highest in the country.

Successful inclusion of Sikkim as an eighth member of the North Eastern Council.

Massive rural housing scheme covering a total of 10,000 beneficiaries per year at a cost of Rs. 20,000/- per family has been successfully launched and implemented.

Free distribution of text books and exercise books to all students. Free uniforms to students up to Class V.

Establishment of Mahavidyalaya of Sanskrit at Gyalshing in West Sikkim and Colleges, including Medical and Engineering in other districts.

70% of total Plan outlay earmarked for the development of the rural areas of Sikkim.

Government accorded official recognition of "State language" to Tamang, Gurung, Rai, Sherpa, Mangar, Newar and Sunwar (Mukhia) languages and has taken steps for their future development.

Old age pension being granted every year to 100 eligible persons from each of the 32 assembly constituencies in the State.

Mid day meal program for school children has been launched.

In all Government jobs and higher studies 23% of seats are reserved for Scheduled Tribe 6% to SC and 21 % to OBCs.

Scrapping of controversial Rathong-Chu Hydel Project in deference to religious sentiments of the people of the region.

Launching of website on Sikkim. www.sikkim.gov.in

Lok Adalats and Legal Services aid have been set up in all four district headquarters and sub-division.

Old age pension of ex-servicemen has been enhanced from Rs. 150 to Rs. 200 p.m..

Sikkim becomes the first State to ban the use of non-biodegradable items like plastic bags and also grazing in forest land by cattles.

The foundation stone of Airport at Pakyong laid on April 6 with 1600 m runway at the cost of Rs. 80 crores.

Chief Minister inaugurated a helipad at Dodak under Soreng Constituency in July, constructed at a cost of Rs. 20 lakhs.

Sikkim becomes the first State to carry out Hepatitis 'B' vaccination programme for children under 0 - 1 year of age, at Government expense.

Two historic Documents: Sikkim Human Development Report 2001 and Sikkim: The People Vision were published and released by the Prime Minister in New Delhi on 5 September.

30 per cent reservations are given to women in Government jobs and 33 per cent in Panchayats.

Nathula trade route reopened after a gap of half a century.

Massive administrative and financial power decentralization to  the Panchayati raj Institution.

Janta Mela, the biggest ever welfare package for the poor Sikkimese  has been  launched.

A number of stringent measures were taken to preserve and protect the fragile eco-system of this Himalayan State, like banned grazing of domestic animals in forest land, banned use  of non-biodegradable products, banned smoking in public place, launched Smriti Van  programme all over the State.

In recognition of his outstanding contributions towards preservation and protection of ecology  the Chief Minister of Sikkim,   Mr. Pawan Chamling, was declared as the Greenest Chief Minister of India.

Govt. determines to make Sikkim an Organic State

A Ropeway at Gangtok linking Deorali with the Tashiling Secretariat has been commissioned.  Similar  projects  are in the offing at Namchi and Bulbuley Zoo complex Gangtok.

Constituted the State Planning commission  under the chairmanship of the chief Minister with well-known economists and seasoned administrators as its Members to oversee the developmental activities of the state.

135 ft tall statue of Guru Padmasambhava (Guru Rinpoche), Patron saint of Sikkim has been built at Samdruptse in South Sikkim. Similar statue  of Lord Shiva  will be erected at Solophok in  South Sikkim. Work is on to construct Char Dhaam.