DAILY FROM: AHMEDABAD, CHANDIGARH, DELHI, JAIPUR, KOLKATA, LUCKNOW, MUMBAI, NAGPUR, PUNE, VADODARA JOURNALISM OF COURAGE FRIDAY, MAY 16, 2025, NEW DELHI, LATE CITY, 22 PAGES `7.00 (`8 BIHAR & RAIPUR, `15 SRINAGAR) WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM SINCE 1932 SIKKIM TURNS TODAY! Shri Narendra Modi Prime Minister of India SIKKIM@50: WHERE PROGRESS MEETS PURPOSE, AND NATURE NURTURES GROWTH SIKKIM@50: SOCIAL WELFARE WITH COMPASSION AND IMPACT im ikkim, a H y 1975, S India as its 22nd th of Ma Union of On the 16 ined the , jo kingdom • • • WOMEN’S EMPOWERMENT: 33% reservation in government jobs. 50% reservation in urban and rural local bodies. Decentralized Governance: Devolution of functions, functionaries, and finances to grassroots. WELFARE SCHEMES: TARGETED WE • Sikkim Aama Yojana: Financial assistance for Aam non-working mothers. m • Aama Sashaktikaran Yojana: 4 free LPG Sasha refills annually for BPL women households. • Safe Spaces for Women: Working Women f Hostels and Br Breastfeeding Pods in public spac-es. • Empowerme through Education, Empowerment Housing, Ski Development & Skill Entrepreneurship: Building an enabling Entrepreneu thro ecosystem through targeted interventions. and ec Sikkim RIDDHA AULO, SAM MARTH SUN ANI SA A FUTURE OF WELLNESS system the highest in India. S SIKKIM@50: CELEBRATING FIVE GLORIOUS DECADES OF HARMONY WITH NATURE , among • 1,000 live births FLAGSHIP SCHEMES: • Vatsalya Scheme: childless couples. • SIKKIM@50: EDUCATION FOR EVERY CHILD, EMPOWERMENT FOR EVERY FUTURE • • Universal Access to Education: A school within reach of every student. Literacy Rate achieved at an impressive 90.67%. • Gender Parity Index at 1.065, reflecting gender-balanced access. • Best-in-Class Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Foundational- 4:1; Preparatory- 3:1; Middle- 6:1; Secondary- 7:1 • Supporting Every Learner through free provision of textbooks, uniforms, mid-day meals, transport, and digital infrastructure. • Bahini Scheme: Free sanitary napkins with incinerator facilities in schools and colleges. V I S I T S I K K I M h t t p s : //s i k k i m t o u r i s m . g o v . i n India’s First Fully Organic Indi Farming State. F First to Ban chemical • F fertilizers, pesticides, Single f Use U Plastics, including a complete ban on all portable c mineral water bottles of 2 m litre and below. l Organic Certification across • O agriculture, and horticulture. a Biod with 4,000+ flowering plant species, 574 bird species, 26% of India’s floral diversity. Khangchendzonga National Park in the mixed category. Network Coverage. SIKKIM’S VISION CLEAN, GREEN, AND SUSTAINABLE LIVING: • 100% coverage in sanitation, drinking water, and electrification. • Mero Rukh-Mero Santati Initiative (My Tree-My Legacy): 108 trees planted for every child born—recognized globally at COP 28, Dubai. SUSTAINABLE TOURISM MODEL: • Homestays, eco-trails, and conservation of sacred lakes like Khecheopalri (Ramsar Site). • Leadership in Climate Science & Resilience: Pioneering in GLOF mitigation and mountain sustainability research. ZERO POVERTY, 100% LITERACY, AND RCC ROOF HOME FOR EVERY HOUSEHOLD BY 2027 INFORMATION & PUBLIC RELATIONS DEPARTMENT GOVERNMENT OF SIKKIM DATE-14.05.2025 ECONOMIC & HUMAN DEVELOPMENT LEADERSHIP • Highest Per Capita Income in India at ₹7.07 lakh. • Fastest Growing Economy with 13.1% GSDP growth since 2011. • India’s Highest Labour Force Participation Rate at 61.7%, reflecting effective demographic dividend realization. • SDG Champion of Northeast, having achieved 2035 targets clean water, sanitation, and allweather rural roads. • Top Performer in Poverty Reduction with a Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) of 0.011—among the lowest in India. • Human Development Index (HDI) surged from 0.211 (1983) 0.712 (2022) - one of India’s most remarkable improvements. elopment ev owards D T and Joy alayan RO No. 49/IPR/PUB/DIS/2025-26 SIKKIM@50: A MODEL OF ECONOMIC GROWTH AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT