“My government is pro-people” 

Known as the Green Chief Minister, Pawan Chamling reveales his experiences, achievements and future plans in a candid interview.

North East News Agency

Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Kumar Chamling has been at the helm of affairs since 1994. Known as the Green Chief Minister, he has been making efforts to make Sikkim a garden state. His Sikkim Democratic Front has recently joined the ruling United Progressive Alliance at the Centre. In a tete-a-tete to North-East News Agency, Mr. Chamling revealed his experiences, achievements and future plans.

North East News Agency: Sikkim’s plan outlay for 2006-07 has been fixed at Rs. 550 crore. Was this amount as per expectation? What were your demands from the Centre?

Pawan Chamling: The annual plan outlay for 2006-07 was as per the expectations of the Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) led State government. In fact we are satisfied with the outlay, which will help to us accelerate growth in tourism, floriculture and horticulture sectors. My Government is taking up infrastructure development in rural areas on a priority basis and will encourage private participation in sectors such as tourism and organic farming in the fiscal 2006-07. I have requested the Centre for extension of the East-West corridors of the national highway development programme to Sikkim along with construction of an alternative highway to ensure free and regular movement of traffic to the State. The Planning Commission has hailed the State Government for its economic development and satisfactory achievements. Our efforts to introduce village-level planning and farm diversification were also appreciated.

NENA: SDF has recently joined the United Progressive Alliance (UDF). What are the reasons behind joining the ruling coalition at the Centre?

PC: The SDF has been giving outside support to the UPA ever since the latter assumed power at the Centre. Now it is a full-fledged member of the alliance. This would help the party resolve long-pending State-specific issues in consultation with the Centre. Ever since SDF came to power in Sikkim, we have been tirelessly working towards development of the hill State. We supported the NDA government in the interests of the State. Our decision to join UPA is also in the interests of the State, which requires Centre’s support and guidance to realise its potential. State’s interest is supreme to us and we cannot be accused of switching loyalties.

NENA: You are in your third term as the Chief Minister. What are the areas you think you could further improve?

PC: My attempts are directed at institutionalising democracy in a State, which had a long history of autocratic rule. We are still working in this direction. As the State does not generate huge revenue yet, certain infrastructural bottlenecks still persist. We have been demanding an airport for long but without any success. An airport in the State will increase tourist inflow manifolds and enhance our revenue. Our demands will not only add to Sikkim’s development but also to country’s development. Infrastructure development is my top priority in the coming years.

NENA: You are among the few Chief Ministers of the country to have survived anti-incumbency factor for more than a decade since you came to power. What are reasons for your success?

PC: My government has never compromised with the development of the State. My government is pro-people and pro-poor. It has been working tirelessly in this direction. Our biggest achievement has been Sikkim’s emotional integration with rest of India and we are working towards further consolidation of this. We have built houses for people under below poverty line. Today Sikkim is the most peaceful State in the North-East, despite being surrounded by three foreign countries viz., China, Nepal and Bhutan. Maintaining peace also tops our agenda. But unfortunately we have not received any peace bonus. The Centre should consider giving peace bonus to Sikkim. We are promoting Eco-tourism and make Sikkim a garden State by 2009. Our efforts to make all villages in the State economically sustainable and also strengthen the panchayats by devolving to them more powers have been appreciated. Our policies have been fashioned on a paradigm shift from nurturing the more traditional professions to developing the service sector. People of Sikkim have been judging us based on our commitment and sincerity towards development.

NENA: What are your plans for the future to develop Sikkim?

PC: We want to make Sikkim self-sufficient by 2015 in all respects. Sikkim would be revenue surplus State by that time. We want to produce 5,000 MW hydro-electirc power by 2015, which will bring Sikkim huge amount of revenue.

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