Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang called on Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs, Nirmala Sitharaman in New Delhi on Wednesday and discussed key developmental priorities of Sikkim, with emphasis on strengthening financial support, enhancing infrastructure, and accelerating sustainable growth in the State. Tamang expressed his gratitude to the finance minister for the inclusion of Part–X, “Pride of Hills: Special Development Assistance for the Hill States,” under SASCI 2026–27, along with the generous allocation earmarked therein. The Chief Minister also thanked Sitharaman for the recognition of the unique challenges faced by hill states and for the continued support extended by the Government of India, under which Sikkim is set to receive an additional allocation of Rs 820 crores.
“Further, I extended a warm welcome and conveyed my best wishes for her visit to the Vibrant Villages, a visionary initiative conceptualized by Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, which has emerged as a transformative and highly beneficial programme for the people residing in and around the border areas,” Tamang stated. The Chief Minister also met Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Shivraj Singh Chouhan and held a comprehensive and forward-looking discussion on strengthening the agricultural sector in Sikkim, with a focus on organic farming practices, value addition and streamlining production processes. Special emphasis was laid on enhancing the cultivation and productivity of large cardamom, a key cash crop of the State. During the meeting, Tamang also invited the Union Minister to the closing ceremony of the Golden Jubilee of Sikkim’s Statehood.