GANGTOK,: Lok Sabha MP Indra Hang Subba, speaking at the Lok Sabha, has urged
the Centre to ensure robust road connectivity to Sikkim so that the remote
border State can also benefit from ‘Make in India’ initiative.
“Small
and hilly States are excluded from the ‘Make in India’ scheme because of poor
connectivity. The NH 10, which connects Sikkim, is in a poor condition and due
to lack of proper connectivity, Sikkim gets excluded from ‘Make in India’
scheme. I request the Central government to focus and support the connectivity
requirement of Sikkim,” said Indra Hang.
The
Lok Sabha MP was speaking in the Parliament while supporting the Motion of
Thanks on President’s Address on February 3.
The ‘Make
in India’ initiative is a government program to encourage companies to
manufacture products in India. The goal is to make India a global manufacturing
hub and a key player in the global economy.
In
his brief address, the Lok Sabha MP also drew the Parliament’s attention
towards the lack of proper road connectivity to the international borders in
North Sikkim and West Sikkim. He urged the Centre that these border roads in
Sikkim be strengthened in interest of national security.
Indra
Hang submitted that Sikkim, being the nation’s first and only Organic State,
can be developed by the Centre as an organic food processing hub. Sikkim can
lead the nation in organic food processed products because we have experience
and are still practising organic farming, he said.
The
Lok Sabha MP also raised the pending demand of tribal status for the 12
left-out Sikkimese communities and the Assembly seat reservation of the
Limboo-Tamang tribal communities. The Limboo-Tamang communities were listed as
STs in 2003 but even today, they have not got Assembly seat reservation which
is a violation of their constitutional rights, he said.
As
Sikkim celebrates its 50th Statehood Day this year, I request the
Government of India to consider these issues and give justice to the people of
Sikkim, said Indra Hang.
