Gangtok, July 22 . Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament from Sikkim DT Lepcha has called for urgent attention to the development of basic infrastructure in the strategically located Himalayan state.
Addressing the House on Monday, Lepcha emphasized the need for equitable development in line with the national goal of becoming a developed nation by 2047. The issue came up during the ongoing monsoon session of Parliament.
“I am pleased to inform you that Sikkim is celebrating the golden jubilee of its statehood. At this historic juncture, I wish to draw the government’s attention towards the need for accelerated infrastructure development in our state,” said Lepcha. He pointed out that Sikkim shares sensitive international borders with Tibet (China), Bhutan, and Nepal, and its difficult mountainous terrain has been a persistent challenge to consistent development.
Highlighting the slow pace of infrastructure growth in the state, he stated, “In a limited time, we are unable to access all essential facilities.” Roads, healthcare, education, communication, and power connectivity in remote parts of the state continue to lag behind, affecting both economic potential and national security.
The MP further invoked Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas’ and said that small states like Sikkim with low population and complex geography must be given special focus so they can contribute meaningfully to nation-building.
He urged the Central government to adopt a balanced approach, ensuring that regions like Sikkim are not left behind in the national development roadmap. “Only through equal and inclusive growth can we collectively realise the dream of a developed India by 2047,” Lepcha said.
. SUJ PRS
