The Chief Minister, Mr.Pawan Chamling and his delegation comprising of Chief Secretary, Addl. Chief Secretary, Principal Secretary Planning & Development, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, Secretaries and Heads of Departments attending the Annual Plan 2008-09 were given a warm welcome by Dr. Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Dy. Chairman, Planning Commission, as per a press release received from Private Secretary to the Chief Minister, Camp New Delhi. Other members of the Planning Commission comprising of Mr. B.K. Chaturvedi, Dr (Ms.) Syeda Hamida, Mr. Anwar Hooda, Dr. V. L. Chopra, Mr. P.P. Srivastava, Member from NEC, Mrs. Borothakur, Member from NEC, Secretary Planning Commission, Mr. Subhas Pani and a host of officials from the Planning Commission were also present during the meeting.
The Chief Minister made his presentation on the approach of development of the State for the 11th Plan Period in various sectors and specifically for the Annual Plan 2008-09 (the full text is reproduced on page 3 & 4).
The Deputy Chairman congratulated the Chief Minister for a very good performance in the 10th Plan in all the sectors and expected similar performance in the 11th Plan period. Then, he requested the members representing various sectors in the Planning Commission to make their comments on Sikkim. Mr. B.K. Chaturvedi stated that Sikkim is doing better than the other North-Eastern states. In hydro-power sector, Sikkim is doing exceptionally well with Teesta V nearing full operationalization by April 2008. He said more hydro power projects must come up in the State and stressed early completion of the remaining power projects for which Planning Commission would give full support and also advised due care on environment management and plugging leakages in transmission and distribution system. In the field of agriculture and horticulture, necessary steps in terms of enforcing the rules were noted and in health, the state is doing well. In Education, dropouts was one area of concern but it seems the methodology adopted need to be looked into again. The major concern was regarding connectivity for which the Central Government and the State Government should sit together. Finally, Mr. Chaturvedi congratulated the State Government on its excellent performance and for presenting innovative ideas.
Dr.(Mrs.) S. Hamida said that the human development indicators were very good and expected that the state would improve in sectors relating to anemia amongst women between 15-45 years of age and more improved statistics on child and women care as done in the other sectors. She noted the difference of women when they were first being provided reservation in the Panchayat bodies and now the improvement in the status of women with the appointment of women as Zilla Adhakshyas and Upa-Adhakshyas.
Dr. V.L. Chopra complimented the Chief Minister and said “your beautiful speech stood as a testimony of your well-prepared Plan document”. Medicinal plant, environment, bio-diversity and wildlife measures adopted by the Government were commendable which blended with the outlook of the state being positive and constructive. In science & technology, environment and forests, some more degree of investment funds would be necessary. In the physical area, landslide and gaciology should be on high priority. Same thing can be said of endangered species and medicinal plants. He further said that on commercial crops and in orchids, Sikkim has the advantage and can do better. Similarly, on large cardamom the State has the lead and in fruits as well. Sikkim’s cheese, he added is world famous and the innovative idea of involving Panchayati Raj institution in Forest Management has to be emulated by others.
Mr. Anwar Hooda in his comments said “the future of Sikkim lies in tourism and I congratulate the State Government on tourism measures adopted. The airport at Pakyong will give further fillip to tourism. The airport project is awaiting approval by Public Investment Board. On the Transport side under Bharat Nirman only two projects out of 13 have taken up which needed to be vigorously followed”.
Mr. P.P. Srivastava, congratulated the Chief Minister and the Sikkim Team for the “most cleanliest and transparent system of governance”. Steps on training of 100 teachers each for Elementary Education and Primary Education needed to be supported by providing funds on appointment of adhoc teachers. Mr. Srivastava commended on the condition of roads maintained by the State Government in remote areas in West Sikkim which were better maintained than the roads maintained by Border Roads. Further, he desired that the border trade in Nathu La needed all the logistic support comparable to the logistic arrangement on the other sides.
Mrs. Borothakur said that the terraces of Sikkim were perhaps the best. The State was deficit in food grains but said that the cropping pattern being suggested by the NEC could make Sikkim surplus in food grains. One such schemes of the new cropping schemes would be taken up in Sikkim which will help in making Sikkim surplus in food grains in next two years.
Mr. Subhas Pani, Secretary, Planning Commission said that almost all the points which needed to be covered have been responded to by all the Members. He, however, drew the attention of the State Government in three areas. In the Power side, agreements signed with power developers should be seen very closely so that the state does not suffer in getting its assured revenue and other spin off benefits. Secondly, Sikkim being small, government spending on salaries needed to be looked into afresh through putting a cap on recruitment of any more employees. And thirdly, the management of debt should be handled with great care. Finally, it was indicated that due to strong presentation making out convincing case, the Annual Plan deserved to be fixed at Rs. 852 crores which is 23 percent increase from the last Annual Plan.