Pawan Chamling: Sikkim on verge of becoming fully-literate state

Pawan Chamling, the Sikkim Chief Minister, announces that the north-eastern state, with 96.72 percent literacy rate, is on the verge of being a fully-literate state. The Sikkim CM gives credit to the huge impetus laid by the government on human resource development for which the state has been able to create history.

The Chief Minister made this announcement while addressing people at the state-level Tendong Lho Rum Faat celebrations held at the suburban town near Gangktok in East Sikkim, Saramsa Garden near Ranipool. Along with other things in the speech, he also laid special emphasis on the Lepcha community of Sikkim. Speaking about the Lepchas, Chamling added that the community is now identified as a primitive tribe and that is reflected in the numerous developmental initiatives taken by the government for the social, cultural, economic and intellectual upliftment of the Sikkimese community.

The key initiatives taken up by the government for the development of the Lepcha community too are being highlighted by the CM. He mentioned the declaration of Lepchas as Primitive Tribe, setting up of Primitive Tribe Welfare Board, the introduction of the Lepcha language at the university level, and several other infrastructural developments that are planned keeping in mind the development of the Lepcha community.

However, the Sikkim CM had to be harsh on the criticisms made by a certain section of people who have targeted the HPV vaccine initiative of the government. According to him, when more than 150 countries have administered the HPV vaccine on adolescent girls for fruitful results in preventing cervical cancer, it is Sikkim which has come forward as the first state in the country to launch it. Giving an acute reply to his critics, Chamling said that the Sikkim government is following the Australian model and this is reported to be best so far. Putting more stress on his sense of responsi.bility towards the citizens, he added that he and his government is committed to serve the people better and ensure them of a healthy, happy and fulfilling life.