Sikkim Development Ala Switzerland

Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Chamling recently said that the comprehensive and holistic planning and budgeting framework in the form of “Village Development Action Plan” prepared by Professor Bernard Dafflon of Fribourg University, Switzerland would be used as a road map for scientific development of villages under the eco-city state concept.

Releasing the plan for Sikkim during a function organised by State Rural Development and Management Department, Mr. Chamling said that a pilot Village Development Action Plan for Aritar Gram Panchayat Unit has also been prepared following the Action Plan.

“The State Government specifically chose Switzerland to frame the model considering the similarity between the two countries particularly in their geographical terrain, very strong belief in decentralization and peaceful and hospitable nature of the people,” he said

The Chamling led government had earlier earmarked 70 percent plan allocation for village development and the government firmly believes that without the development of the rural areas, total development is not possible.

During the paper launch, Mr. Chamling categorically stated that a comprehensive and holistic planning and budgeting framework in the form of Village Development Action Plan prepared by the Professor would be used as a road map for scientific development of villages under the eco-city state concept and will further strengthen the decentralization and empowerment mission of the government.

“We’ve realized that the best way to achieve comprehensive development in the state is to increasingly decentralize and devolve the functioning of the government to the people of the grassroots level,” he said.