Sikkim MP Dorjee Tshering Lepcha emphasized the Government’s initiatives for socio-economic development in the Northeast during a Rajya Sabha session on Thursday, focusing on rural livelihoods, tourism, and cultural preservation. Minister of State for Development of North Eastern Region (MDoNER), Dr. Sukanta Majumdar, lauded the success of the North East Rural Livelihood Project (NERP), a World Bank-funded initiative that ended in 2019. He revealed that the project improved livelihoods across Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, and Tripura, benefitting 292,889 households, forming over 28,000 Self-Help Groups (SHGs), and providing skill training to 10,000 individuals.
Lepcha also addressed the untapped potential of rural tourism in Sikkim. Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat outlined schemes such as Swadesh Darshan 2.0 for sustainable tourism and Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Unnat Gram Abhiyan, promoting tribal homestays. These initiatives aim to boost local economies and attract visitors through government-funded homestay projects.
On cultural preservation, Lepcha raised the inclusion of Lepcha, Bhutia, and Limbu languages in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution. Minister of State for Home Affairs, Nityanand Rai, confirmed that a proposal from the Sikkim Government is under review, reaffirming the Government’s commitment to safeguarding linguistic diversity.