Sikkim is dubbed as the cleanest state in India. It was the first state to be given the open defecation free (ODF) status. In fact, Sikkim started cleanliness drive almost a decade before Prime Minister Modi’s Swachh Bharat Mission. Cleanliness in the state is not just about toilets. Nobody uses plastics, no one smokes in public places, no one urinates in the open and no one litters. There is heavy penalty for every violation.

Sikkim is a model state in governance related to cleanliness. It has also taken commendable steps to eliminate poverty. There are commendable efforts to attract investments. Sikkim is the only state which offers excise benefits. This has helped the state attract investments from major pharmaceutical companies including Cipla, Sun Pharma, Zydus Cadila, Alembic, IPCA, Alkem Lab, Intas Pharma, Torrent Pharmaceuticals, and Unichem.

Early this year, Sikkim witnessed a change in the government after nearly two-and-a-half decade. Prem Singh Tamang (Golay) led Sikkim Krantikari Morcha ousted Pawan Kumar Chamling government, who ruled the state for a record 24 years.

The new chief minister Prem Singh Tamang (Golay) has announced that the “good governance” initiative taken by his predecessor Pawan Kumar Chamling would continue. Tamang has outlined his vision to empower youth from the state to play a role at the national and global stage.

“The youth of Sikkim are highly talented and for their talent to flourish and reach greater heights at the national and global level, the State needs to have institutions that are competitive, inclusive and globally oriented. The resources devoted to education and allied services will be substantially enhanced,”  Tamang said while presenting his maiden budget.

With one commendable project Sikkim is categorised as Catching Up state in the SKOCH State of Governance report 2019. The project is related to healthcare.

HPV Vaccination Campaign

Sikkim’s Department of Healthcare, Human Services & Family Welfare has launched Human Papilloma Virus Vaccination Campaign in the state. Infection of cervix with high-risk, cancer-causing types of Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) is known to be the leading cause for nearly all cases of the cervical cancer.

Sikkim is the first state in the country to introduce HPV vaccine for 9 years to 14 years girls for prevention of cervical cancer in the entire state from state budget. The state has implemented the initiative adhering to the WHO protocol.