Gangtok, Aug 18 (PTI) The Institute for Transforming Sikkim (ITS), a government think tank, has turned to the state’s former legislators for ideas and institutional experience as it works on a long-term development roadmap for Sikkim till 2047.
At a consultation with the Former Legislators’ Federation of Sikkim (FLFS), ITS officials flagged youth unemployment, underused government assets, rural economic development, declining fertility, substance abuse and the state’s dependence on Central assistance among the key challenges requiring sustained policy attention.
According to an official statement, ITS Vice Chairperson CP Sharma said the institute was following a “bottom-to-top approach” and had already consulted stakeholders across all six districts to identify ground-level problems.
“Their extensive experience in governance and understanding of grassroots realities would be invaluable in shaping the State’s long-term development vision,” Sharma said, according to the statement.
He said greater continuity and accountability in governance were essential and called for government-built assets lying underutilised to be revived and put to productive use.
Sharma also stressed the need to strengthen agriculture and rural livelihoods, retain educated youth and build Sikkim’s own economic and social resilience.
ITS, he said, would also consult registered political parties and has been entrusted with project monitoring and evaluation.
The consultation forms part of the proposed Viksit Sikkim Vision 2047, aligned with the Centre’s Viksit Bharat Vision 2047.
ITS member Namrata Thapa said the vision aims to build a prosperous, resilient, technologically advanced and sustainable Himalayan state while balancing economic growth with ecological security.
The roadmap will focus on employment and livelihoods, agriculture, tourism, youth and skill development, connectivity, environmental and climate resilience, resource security and governance reforms.
Former ministers, MLAs and advisers who attended the meeting shared their experiences and called for development planning to remain rooted in constituency-level realities, local knowledge and community aspirations.
They also suggested that former legislators could be utilised in constituency assessments, policy formulation, monitoring and implementation.
The recommendations emerging from the consultation will be submitted and considered for incorporation into the State Vision Document and other strategic planning initiatives, the statement said.
The state government established the ITS as a premier multidisciplinary think tank in July last year. PTI COR NN
This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.