Sikkim Attends Planning Commission Meet in Guwahati

A two-day meeting between the Planning Commission and the Northeastern States for preparing of the ‘Approach’ paper to the 12th Plan (2012-17) began on Monday in Guwahati.

The Planning Commission team for the meeting will be headed by the Deputy Chairman of the Commission Montek Singh Ahluwalia.

The meeting is fifth and concluding regional consultation with Northeastern States to take their views in order to prepare the Approach paper that seeks to raise India’s economic growth to 9-9.5 per cent, official sources said.

While chalking out the priorities for the 12th Five Year Plan, the meeting would look into the area specific projects and programmes suitable for the North-East States, laying stress on the priority sectors to achieve the desired growth rate, they added.

Chief ministers of eight States of the region - Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Tripura and Sikkim are participating in the meet, the sources said. The meeting is also being attended by union DONER minister B K Handique.

The Commission has already completed discussion on the document with four regions - North, East, West and South.

The sources added that the document will be placed before the Union Cabinet for consideration and then before the country’s highest policy making body National Development Council (NDC) any time after the Parliament’s Monsoon session scheduled from August 1.

(The Hindu)

Governor represents Sikkim in 60th North Eastern Council (NEC) meeting

Gangtok: 21st June: The 60th North Eastern Council (NEC) meeting was held at New Delhi on the 16th and 17th of June under the Chairmanship of Shri B.K.Handique, Union Minister for DoNER and Chairman, NEC. Sikkim was represented by mthe Governor of Sikkim, Shri. Balmiki Prasad Singh, Minister for HRDD, Government of Sikkim, Shri. N.K. Pradhan, Development Commissioner, Department of Development Planning, Economic Reforms, Smt. RinchenOngmu, Commissioner-cum-Secretary to the Governor of Sikkim, Shri. K.N.

Bhutia. The Governor of Sikkim, in this address to the representativesof other north eastern States, expressed his disappointment at the slow progress of work by BSNL to improve connectivity. According to him, in

today’s world, internet is crucial in bringing about national and regional integration. As regards the look east policy of themGovernment of India (GOI), the Governor said that Sikkim stands by the commitment given in the 58th NEC meeting, in its willingness to host a conference of HoGs (Heads of Governments) of South East Asian countries if approved by the GoI. Shri Singh also requested the GoI to consider opening of North East Development Financial Institution in the region. The Governor also desired that NEC should earmark Rs. 1000 crores under NLCPR to develop high class double lane airport road from Ranipul to Pakyong. A self contained urban settlement along the route could also be developed; not only will this aid in decongesting Gangtok, it will also attract high spending tourists. He said the project could be named Naya Gangtok and it should be developed through the involvement of a reputed International Agency. He also requested DoNER to take interest in funding the 575 bedded super-specialty hospital project currently being developed in Gangtok area

Sikkim lag behind average India income

The Northeast is on a downward spiral and policymakers seem to be groping in the dark. Latest data shows that incomes in seven of eight northeastern
states are now below the national average. Just 15 years ago, four of these states had income levels higher than the country’s average.

Mizoram is the only state where per capita income has remained above the national average through the past decade and a half.

Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and Sikkim had incomes 10% to 20% higher than the national average in 1993-94. All three have now crashed below it. Arunachal is below the national benchmark by over 15% while Nagaland is lagging by a whopping 25%. Sikkim is fractionally below the national average by 2%.

Of the remaining four states, always poor in terms of incomes, three have slid even further down. Assam and Manipur are trailing by over 35%, compared to about 25% in 1993-94. Meghalaya used to be 10% below the national average, now it is 17% behind.

Tripura used to be the most laggard state 15 years ago with its net state income per person almost 30% short of the national average. In 2007-08, it is still behind, but only by 5%.

These figures are based on the net state domestic product data released by the National Accounts Division of the CSO recently. Comparison of state data with national average indicates relative performance among all states in the country. Home to more than five crore people, belonging to over 80 ethnic groups, the eight northeastern states are rich in mineral and natural resources.

Policy makers in New Delhi have spent crores on development of the region, yet the results are dismal. ‘‘The region continues to remain a less favoured area and consequently, mountain inhabitants, often indigenous people, are on the fringe of society geographically, politically and economically,’’ says Eklabya Sharma of the International Center for Integrated Mountain Development.

Since 1998, all central government ministries have been earmarking 10% of their annual budgets for northeastern states. According to the Ministry of Development of North-Eastern Region, between 1998 and 2006, more than Rs 42,600 crore was kept for the northeast.

The North-East Council, the key agency for channelizing funds to the region, has approved nearly Rs 1,100 crore in the last three years for development projects, although only Rs 560 crore has actually been released, according to a recent Lok Sabha statement by the minister. Since it is common for funds to get lost in India’s bureaucratic-political maze, unspent funds meant for the Northeast were collected in a huge treasure chest that goes under the rather awkward name of Non-Lapsable Common Pool of Resources. It was to be used to directly fund developmental projects ranging from educational institutions to roads and bridges. Between 1998 and 2006, over Rs 10,000 crore accumulated in the corpus.

About Rs 4,800 crore of this has been spent, that is, less than 50%. Officials claim that implementation is poor at the ground level, but activists say that the whole set-up is riven with nepotism and corruption. Project sanctioning has become a tool for patronage rather than development.

‘‘No proper research is done prior to starting development projects,’’ says Hilloljyoti Singha who works for sustainable livelihoods with an NGO in Guwahati.

Sikkim brings max gold from North-East Wusu

Gangtok,October22 : Sikkim won 8 gold medals, 5 silver and 2 bronze medals in 4th North-East Wusu Championship was held from 15th to 18th October at Shillong, Indoor Stadium, Polo Ground.
Gold medalists are Sanjok Subba of West Point Senior Secondary School, Sumiran Chettri of Modern Secondary School, Som Br. Tamang of Burtuk Junior High School, Akash Jaems, Thenley Sherpa, and Beebak Achraya of St.Xaviers School, Pakyong, Binita Rai and Rupa Rai of Samdong Senior Secondary School.
Silver medalists are Sonil Subba of Mount Deepam Mission School, Gangtok, Anmol Sunuwar and Andru Lepcha of St.Xaviers School, Pakyong and Lasha Doma and Jumthi Lepcha of Samdong SSS. Bronze medalists are Sheylama and Yangchen Doma Bhutia of Samdong SSS, informed Mr. O.S Singh, State Wausau Coach on Wednesday at White Memorial Hall.
He said, out of 18 participants 15 players have won medal from Sikkim. 45 players were needed for team ranking but Sikkim had only 18 players in the championship for which Sikkim team was not counted in team ranking.
But the highest number of gold medals was bagged by Sikkim. All the northeastern states except Tripura were participants, Mr. Singh said. Sikkim ream was accompanied by coach, Mr Singh, assistant coach Anand Singh, Suk Man Subba and Kumar Chettri, boys’ manager and Mrs. Sonam Choden Lepcha manager of girls’ team.

North East Food Pro 2009 in Gangtok Postponed

Gangtok,September22: The Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC), a premier body of business and industry in Eastern and North-Eastern India, was organizing a summit-cum-exhibition focusing North-East agri business ‘North-East Food Pro 2009’ . The event supposed to took place today at Chintan Bhawan here in Gangtok.
The national summit is co-sponsored by the Ministry of Food Processing Industries. Subodh Kant Sahai, Union Minister of Food Processing and Pawan Chamling, Chief Minister, Sikkim, were likely to participate in the summit.
However,all the participants were informed through SMS message by SCC that meeting has been postponed and new dates will be informed in future .

N-E including Sikkim to mount growth path: Planning Commission

Gangtok,Oct. 8: The Northeast including Sikkim will witness a massive upsurge in economic development over the next five years, announced Planning Commission deputy chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia today. However, he sounded a cautious note, saying the region’s absorption capacity was still low.
He disclosed that a whopping Rs 80,943 crore has been spent under the Tenth Plan and the figure would go up in the Eleventh Plan. Pledging that there would be no shortage of funds for the region, he, however, added that he expected the money to be properly utilised.
Ahluwalia was speaking on development issues concerning the Northeast at a conference here today on India’s Look East Policy: Challenges for Sub-Regional Co-operation.
The conference is being organised by the public diplomacy division of the ministry of external affairs in association with the Omeo Kumar Das Institute of Social Change and Development and the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations.
“Are we getting full value for the money allocated?” he asked at the meeting, which was attended by policy makers, diplomats of the foreign service, representatives of NGOs, academicians and social activists.
Ahluwalia promised that the region would not suffer for lack of funds as the Centre would spend more on the region in the Eleventh Plan.
“The capacity to absorb the money productively is still low in the region,” he pointed out. However, a special strategy will be adopted for infrastructure development in the region during the current Plan period, he added.
Unveiling figures to show how the Centre has given top priority to the Northeast, he said the per capita central assistance here is Rs 2,575, while for the rest of the country it is Rs 684. The central assistance as ratio of SDP (state gross domestic product — GDP) has increased from 9.1 per cent to 10.6 per cent for the Northeast. But for the non-special category states, it has declined from 2.4 per cent to 1.9 per cent.
He added that the total accruals to the non-lapsable central pool of resources was pegged at Rs 10,400 crore by the end of the Tenth Plan, of which only Rs 4,660 crore was utilised.
Referring to future initiatives, Ahluwalia disclosed that airports would be built in Kohima, Itanagar and Sikkim. He said he was in favour of having a regional airline based in Guwahati.
He also noted that the region is blessed with huge power resources but these have never been utilised. “There has been no effective power policy for the region,” he added

North East India Trade & Investment Opportunities Week: Day 1

Unconfirmed Reports suggests that Dr. Chamling has decided to skip Bangkok meet

photos:Queen Sirikit National convention center in Bangkok

Bangkok,October 2, 2007: Queen Sirikit National convention center in Bangkok witnessed a rare event which seeks to strengthen ties between India and Thailand. The initiative has been taken up by Union Minister for Development of North East Region (DONER), Mr. Mani Shankar Aiyar. The day started with inauguration followed by press conference where Five out of eight Chief Ministers of the North East States along with the senior Cabinet Ministers of Assam, Sikkim and Tripura were present. Mr. Aiyar stressed on the fact that for the first time in the history of diplomatic relations in Indian and Thailand, such a huge delegation of about 200 high level officials and businessmen has come to Thailand. There were questions from correspondents on the expectations of investment, about the Trilateral Highway project and about the dedicated airlines connecting Bangkok and the capital cities of the NE states of India. The answers to all these questions were in positive and showed optimism of Mani shankar Aiyar and his Thai counterpart the Commerce Minister, Krirk -Krai Jirapaet. On the question of insurgency in Northern Eastern States, Mr. Aiyar said that there is no insurgency or terrorism existing in the region except in some of the pockets, which is the scenario everywhere in the world. He also added that he has no complaint from the media. Almost 50 exhibitors from different areas are showcasing their products and are looking for either investors or trade partners. India is seeking investment from Thailand in various sectors that include infrastructure, energy, food processing, tourism and hospitality, handloom and handicrafts, rubber and bamboo. The inaugural session was followed by Ethnic Fashion Show & Cultural Program "COLOURS OF PARADISE" and gala dinner at Retro Live Cafe.

Hill girls to perform in Bangkok Business Meet

Cultural show add-on to business meet
Kalimpong, Sept. 28: A four-member dance troupe of St Joseph’s Convent here today left for Bangkok to participate in the Northeast India Trade and Investment Opportunities Week to be held from October 1 to 4.
The troupe comprising Rhea Gurung, Bitisha Thapa, Yankeela Bhutia and Shivani Karki — all students of Class IX — will perform yak and Nepali folk dances.
“Our girls will also be part of a Mizo dance since some members of the Mizoram troupe could not get their passports made on time,” said Maria Goretti, the teacher-choreographer accompanying the girls. The troupe may also be asked to perform on the third day
Goretti told The Telegraph on phone from Guwahati before taking a flight to Bangkok that the students have been rehearsing in the Assam capital for the past few days.
“We are excited and consider ourselves lucky to have got an opportunity like this,” said Bitisha. “We only got two-three days to practise back home, but tried to compensate by practising till late in the evening,” added her friend Rhea.
Organised by the Union DoNER ministry and the Thai ministry of commerce together with the Indian Chamber of Commerce, Calcutta, the event will showcase possibilities of doing business with Northeastern states. The cultural items are an add-on to the main programme.
The principal of the school, Sister Erica, said: “This is a wonderful opportunity for the students to showcase their talent to a global audience.”