The Ninth legislative Assembly underway in Sikkim

Gangtok : The first day of the first session of Sikkim’s ninth legislative assembly saw the chief minister, who is the leader of the House as also the Finance, Revenue and Expenditure Department minister, present his government’s annual budget of Rs 6,666.71 crore. As much as Rs3,497.03 crore under plan includes allocations under the dispensation of the North Eastern Council, non-lapsable pool of central resources and centrally sponsored schemes while there is provision of Rs3,169.68 crore under the non-plan segment. Addressing the House, Governor Shriniwas Patil said Sikkim has made commendable progress and achieved many a milestone. The GDP rate of the state has grown by 22.8 per cent under the 11th plan with a per capita growth rate of 19.12 per cent at constant prices, the highest in the country. 

Patil also noted the state government’s 23 initiatives such as the 100 per cent literacy mission, the Sikkim Organic Mission 2015 and the Sikkim Poverty Free Mission. The budge has laid focus on ongoing projects under the state plan and a Special Plan Assistance. The objective is to complete pending schemes as much as possible before new projects and schemes are taken up. Meanwhile, the chief minister informed the House this was the 20th budget his government has tabled since taking charge in 1994 and thanked the Sikkimese people for reposing their confidence in his government for the fifth consecutive time. The first day also witnessed Speaker KN Rai administering the oath of affirmation to Martam Rumtek MLA Mechung Bhutia.