Sikkim

Sikkim is a strategically located tiny hill State with an area of 7096 sq km. One of the special category States in the country Sikkim is also the 8th Member of the North Eastern Council. The lofty mountains, perennial glaciers, lush green hills, valleys and the rich bio-diversity constitute the magnificent watershed for sustainable social and economic development and also for enriching the traditional and cultural heritage of the State. Sikkim is encircled by three different international boundaries. To its west lies Nepal and Bhutan, to its east Tibet Autonomous Region of People's Republic of China and to its south Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council of West Bengal. The State joined the democratic mainstream of the Indian Union only 32 years ago in 1975. Since then progress in democratic and planned development has generated ample social and economic security to the masses. Their choices are broadened and their hopes transformed into opportunities. The journey so far has been rewarding and the development efforts satisfactory.

However, no development programme and orientation can remain the same for ever. It has to undergo a whole range of transformation depending upon the changing aspirations of the people, broadening nature of development instruments and agencies, new dimensions of social problems and economic ills, increasing resource crunch, sustainability imperatives of the State and the growing complexity in the functioning of both national and international systems. In other words, the development challenges in the 21st century for a State like Sikkim are formidable, enormous and complex. The devising of new strategies, approaches and instruments for meeting these challenges itself is a complicated and serious task. The State of Sikkim has been debating and deliberating on the entire spectrum of new challenges particularly in the context of globalisation during the last over one decade. Thus a very systematic thought has gone into the process of devising the new strategies, approaches and instruments that fit into the development needs and goals of the State.

►POPULATION:

District-wise Distribution of Population, Growth rate, Density, Sex ratio and Literacy rate of Sikkim, (2011 census):

Source: census2011.co.in

►ECONOMY:

Gross State Domestic Product:

(Rupee in Crores) (As on 20-02-2018)

Source: Central Statistical Organisation

Net State Domestic Product:

(Rupee in Crores) (As on 20-02-2018)

Source: Central Statistical Organisation

Per Capita Net State Domestic Product:

(Rupees) (As on 20-02-2018)

Source: Central Statistical Organisation

►AGRICULTURE:

Area, Production and Yield of Total Cereals, 2011-12 to 2016-17:

(Area: '000 Hect./Production: '000 Tonnes and Yield: Kg./Hectare)

Source: Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers Welfare, Govt. of India

Area, Production and Yield of Total Foodgrains, 2011-12 to 2016-17:

(Area: '000 Hect./Production: '000 Tonnes and Yield: Kg./Hectare)

Source: Directorate of Economics and Statistics, Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers Welfare, Govt. of India

Area, Production and Yield of Total Pulses, 2011-12 to 2016-17:

(Area: '000 Hect./Production: '000 Tonnes and Yield: Kg./Hectare)

Source: Directorate of Economics and Statistics, Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers Welfare, Govt. of India

Area, Production and Yield of Total Oilseed, 2011-12 to 2016-17:

(Area: '000 Hect./Production: '000 Tonnes and Yield: Kg./Hectare)

Source: Directorate of Economics and Statistics, Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers Welfare, Govt. of India

►HORTICULTURE

Horticultural Crops in Sikkim, 2017-18*:

(Area in 000 Ha/Production in '000 MT)

Continued...

*- 1st Adv. Estimate

Sources: Agriculture Cooperation & Farmers Welfare, Govt. of India

►SERICULTURE

Target and Achievement of Raw Silk production, 2013-14 to 2017-18:

(in MT)

Note: P (Till November 2017)

Source: Central Silk Board, Ministry of Textile, Govt. of India

►EDUCATION:

Number of Private Educational Institutions as on 2012:

Source: Statistical Journal 2013

Number of Government and Private Teacher, 2009 to 2011:

Source: Statistical Journal 2013

►HANDLOOM AND HANDICRAFT:

Details of Crafts/ Trade under DHH Branch Training Centre, Commerce and Industries Department as on 31.03.2016:

Source: Directorate of Handicrafts and Handloom, Govt. of Sikkim

Funds Released for Development and Promotion of Handicrafts Sector under Handicrafts Schemes, 2015-16:

(Rs. in Lakh)

AHVY: Ambedkar Hastshilp Vikas Yojana.

HRD: Human Resource Development.

MSS: Mahila Swasthya Sanghs.

Source: Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 2993, dated on 04.08.2016.

Number of Artisans Benefited under Human Resource Development Scheme to Handicrafts, 2009-10 to 2015-16:

(Upto 30 November, 2015)

Source: Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 172, dated on 26.03.2012,

Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 3255, dated on 18.03.2013.

Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 6039, dated on 30.04.2015 &

Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 816, dated on 03.12.2015

Number of Artisans Benefited under Handicrafts Artisans Comprehensive Welfare Scheme, 2012-13 to 2015-16:

(Amount : Rs. in Lakh)

*: Upto Nov. 2015

Source : Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 816, dated on 03.12.2015.

Physical Achievement under Design and Technology Up-gradation Scheme for Handicraft Artisans, 2009-10 to 2015-16:

*: Upto Novenber 2015.

Source: Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 172, dated on 26.03.2012.

Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 3255, dated on 18.03.2013 &

Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 816, dated on 03.12.2015

►FOREST:

Forest Cover in Sikkim:

(Area in Km.2)

Source: Forest Survey of India 2005, 2009,2011, 2013, 2015 and 2017

►FISHERY:

Fish Production in Sikkim, 2000-01 to 2016-17:

(In ' 000 Tonne)

Continued

Continued

P : Provisional.

* : In Tonne.

Source : Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Govt. of India.

Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation, Govt. of India. &

Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 222, dated on 02.08.2016.

Year-wise details of Fish Production in Sikkim, 2010-11 to 2015-16:

Source: Department of Animal Husbandry Livestock Fisheries & Veterinary Services, Government of Sikkim

►ANIMAL HUSBANDRY:

Livestock Population:

Source: 19th Livestock Census 2012

►TRANSPORT:

Numbers of Registered Vehicles in Sikkim, 2001-02 to 2015-16

Source: Transport Department, Govt. of Sikkim

► TELECOMMUNICATION:

Telecom Infrastructure in Sikkim (Including West Bengal):

(As of March 2018)

*As of December 2017

Source: Sikkim State Report, May 2018, IBEF

► HEALTH:

Health Infrastructure in Sikkim as of June 2018:

Source: Sikkim State Report, May 2018, IBEF

Health Indicators in Sikkim, 2014-15 and 2015-16:

Source: Sikkim State Report, May 2018 and February 2017, IBEF

►BANKING

Bank-wise and population Group-wise Number of Functioning Offices of Commercial Banks, 2014 to 2017:

(As on December)

Source: Reserve Bank of India

►INDUSTRY:

Sikkim is a small state with population of half a million as per 1991 census. The nearest airport is Bagdogra in West Bengal (120 Km) and the nearest railway head is New Jalpaiguri (110 Km) also in West Bengal. However, an airport has been sanctioned by the Union Ministry of Civil Aviation & Airports Authority of India which has been accorded top priority. Construction of the airport is underway and should be operational in the near future. Besides, proposals have also been sent to the Union Government for a railway link connecting Siliguri and Nathula.

Sikkim is a comparatively peaceful state having skilled manpower, a wide network of road communication, banking facilities and no Labour problem.

The Government has identified certain areas for the establishment of Growth Centers mainly is South and West districts. Further the Government has approved the proposal for declaring the following areas as Industries Belt Areas viz. Melli-Legship, Rangpo-Ranipool, and Ranipool-Saramsa areas as Industries Belt Areas viz. Melli-Legship, Rangpo-Ranipool, and Ranipool-Saramsa corridors. Setting up a Public Sector undertakings in four District head quarters and Small Scale Industrial Units at the Gram Panchayat Levels are also proposed so that avenues area created for the unemployed youths.

The following are the Thrust Areas identified by the Government

• Agro-based industries-Floriculture
• Animal Husbandry an Diary Products.
• Minor Forest Based products.
• Handloom, Handicrafts and Village Industries.
• Tourism.
• Precision oriented, High Value, Low Volume products.
• Electronic and Software.
• Hydel Power and
• Tea

Information technology-development of electronic parks etc.

Single Window Clearance are issued for the investors within a very short period and therefore it is considered as one of the best place for investment, Government encourages only the projects, which are high value, low volume eco-friendly and not detrimental to its cultural heritage.

So far, the State government has been the major employer in the state. The government has felt the need create more private sector jobs and is actively pursuing a policy of educating youth on the need to become entrepreneurs and pursue economic activity on their own with active support from the government.

There are various thrust areas of investment and priority which the government has been focusing on. They are area where the State has a huge potential for industry where the State enjoys a comparative advantage. The major endowments of the State are its nature and natural resources, flora and fauna. The State has also a huge potential for hydel power and trade prospects of opening up of the international border trade through Nathula.

The crucial inputs that the State can make available for industry are its manpower, rich varieties of flora and fauna and various horticultural produce. Sikkim has a potential for medicinal herbs.

Sikkim is a politically stable State with virtually no law and order problem as people are peace loving. The State does not suffer from any labour related problem either. Sikkim probably is the only State in the north-eastern areas, which is free from any insurgency related problems. The friendly environment and pollution free atmosphere is absolutely conducive to investment. There could not have been a better situation.

Given the fragility of the eco-system, the approach towards industry is a cautions one and primarily environment friendly. Industries should be entirely pollution free and effluents should be bare minimum with nature friendly disposal of wastes. The strategy would be to build on State's comparative advantages in terms of raw materials and cheap labour surmounting State's handicaps. In other words, promotion of the industries should be in tune with the development strategy.

Sikkim State Report, October 2016, IBEF:

Sikkim State Report, August 2015, IBEF: