Sikkim Human Development Report 2013 presented

A meeting was on Monday held by the Human Development Report Cell at Manan Bhawan to present the Sikkim Human Development Report 2013. The report has been prepared under the guidance of chief minister Pawan Chamling.

Professor AK Shiva Kumar, member of National Advisory Council and Adviser to UNICEF (India), and MP PD Rai have made considerable contributions in framing the report.

Sikkim is the first state in the North East to prepare a Human Development Report. The first report was prepared in 2001 and the ongoing second report is expected to be completed later this year. The report constitutes effective ways to accelerate economic growth and bring along improvements in the standard of life. Sikkim presently has the lowest percentage of the population below poverty line in the country. According to the planning commission, the number of poor in Sikkim has reduced by 70 per cent from 2001 to 2012.

The chief minister highlighted the achievements since the past decade and challenges in the future. He urged participants, both panchayats and urban local bodies, to cooperate in making the 176 Gram Panchayat Units and seven Urban Local Bodies poverty and unemployment free, fully literate, healthy and happy. Chamling noted this should be the ultimate goal of human development in coming years.

The welcome note was delivered by Development Commissioner Nim Euthenpa. Professor Kumar praised the Sikkim government for its cooperation and lauded the development works and achievements of the state under the stewardship of Chamling.

Joint secretary Sarika Pradhan and deputy secretary Jigme Basi presented an overview of the Sikkim Human Development Report 2013 and the processes followed while preparing it.(EOIC)