Governor outlines development pillars and health, education plans at Sikkim Budget Session

Governor Om Prakash Mathur said the Sikkim government is committed to building a resilient, self-reliant and prosperous State for future generations. Speaking at the opening session of the Budget Session 2026-27 in the Sikkim Legislative Assembly, he described Sikkim’s development as progress made in step with nature, culture and people’s aspirations.

Five strategic pillars for the next phase

The Governor said the government has identified five strategic pillars to guide the next phase of development. These include strengthening productive sectors of the economy, improving infrastructure and connectivity, investing in human capital, promoting development while protecting the State’s ecological heritage, and fostering planned, resilient and sustainable urbanisation.

He said these priorities are meant to support faster and more inclusive growth, with an emphasis on environmental sustainability. The Governor also pointed to several steps taken to improve public infrastructure and service delivery in different sectors. These include the State Interest Subvention Scheme for Kisan Credit Card (KCC) agricultural crop loans, a statewide HPV screening programme aimed at early detection and cervical cancer prevention, and a renal transplant programme to expand access to advanced healthcare.

Among other initiatives, he mentioned the establishment of the Sikkim Government Medical College at Sochakgang and the adoption of mastic asphalt surfacing for a modern and climate-resilient road network. He said these measures are part of the government’s effort to strengthen key services across the State.

Focus on education and healthcare

The Governor said education remains one of the top priorities, and that nearly 15 per cent of the State Budget is dedicated to education. He added that the government is working under the National Education Policy 2020 to build an education system that is inclusive, equitable, future-ready and rooted in values.

He also highlighted literacy progress, saying that on 27 May 2026, Sikkim became a fully literate State under the ULLAS Nav Bharat Saksharta Karyakram. According to the Governor, more than 4,000 teachers and volunteers helped, and nearly 15,000 adults attained literacy over the last two years.

On healthcare, the Governor said the goal is to ensure affordable, accessible and quality healthcare for every citizen, while building a resilient system that can meet long-term aspirations for Viksit Sikkim @2047. He also cited national data showing a steady decline in the suicide rate over three years: from 43.1 per lakh population in 2022 to 40.2 in 2023, and further to 36.3 in 2024, which the Governor said reflects an overall decline of nearly 15.8 per cent.