ConveGenius, India’s leading EdTech company, in partnership with the 17000 ft Foundation, a non-profit working in the remotest villages of the Indian Himalayas, announced the successful launch of ‘Mission Frontier’ initiative in Sikkim. The inauguration ceremony was presided over by the Hon’ble Education Minister of Sikkim Sh. Kunga Nima Lepcha, who has been instrumental in providing access to quality education to all citizens of the state.

Mission Frontier is an ambitious initiative by ConveGenius and 17000 ft to strengthen the nation and revolutionise the lives of people in its border districts through the power of education and technology. India has been making strides through physical infrastructure in connecting these remote, frontier regions and improving security. In addition to this, it is essential to build intangible infrastructure like highly educated Indian communities in these border regions to lead to a 10x strategic security and strength. Mission Frontier’s mantra, “You educate one child; you change a family; You educate all children across the border, you secure the country”, encapsulates this ambitious vision.

ConveGenius believes that access to quality education leading to improved life opportunities will be a catalyst to propel ‘national identity’ among the next generation of youth and lead greater national integrity in the frontier regions. With communities in these frontier regions seeing that the future of their children has equal opportunities and privileges, it will compel them to recognize with the Indian nationality – an intangible sense of respect and trust.

Sikkim is the first state to launch Mission Frontier. Speaking at the inauguration, Minister Lepcha appreciated the vision of Mission Frontier. He said “I would like to thank ConveGenius and the 17000 ft Foundation, for their vision to empower all border schools in Sikkim. Mission Frontier is an important and unique initiative and it will serve the nation. In today’s world, students must be able to express themselves freely and achieve their goals. This initiative will provide them with opportunities and train them for the 21st century. Congratulations and I hope this initiative continues to grow.”

Mission Frontier aims to enable all the border schools in Sikkim with the best quality digital learning infrastructure, best quality National Education curriculum. This curriculum mapped to the New Education Policy, is AI enabled, personalized and adaptive but still operates off-the-grid. This approach offers a unique way of creating national communities.

As part of Mission Frontier, ConveGenius will be setting up DigiLabs in all 766 schools in Sikkim, of which it has already completed in 85 schools. These DigiLabs, consisting of an average of 10-30 tablets depending on the size of school, are installed with CG PAL, their personalised and adaptive technology. Furthermore, these DigiLabs will function on solar power, off-grid electricity and off-grid internet technology, thus overcoming the challenges of remote locations. CG PAL will identify learning gaps in students, personalize content, and support teachers with detailed reports on student progress. For the first time, the remotest schools in Sikkim will be able to track learning outcomes of the students, leverage technology for remediation, and be integrated into the state education data systems.

Speaking about this initiative, Jairaj Bhattacharya, Chief Executive Officer, ConveGenius, said: “The launch of Mission Frontier is a disruptive leap towards achieving quality education for the most inaccessible regions of Bharat. This project will push the boundaries of innovation by integration of adaptive learning and interactive digital content in offline and disconnected frontier villages starting from Sikkim’s borders. The solution has integrated solar electrification with affordable digital lab infrastructure, Ai and PAL (Personalised and Adaptive Learning) software working off the grid and community change agents for driving systemic transformation at the local level. This is a big step to further our vision of #sabkaEdtech #sabkaAI”

Radha Raj, Head of Operations at the 17000 ft Foundation, shared that  “We are excited about the possibility of scaling our Whole School transformation initiative to the full Indian Himalayan region in Mission Frontier. This project will create lasting impact on the border villages and ensure quality education for all children.”

With the first successful launch in Sikkim, Mission Frontier has taken a firm step towards realising its vision of securing India’s frontier regions through the power of education and technology. ConveGenius aims to take their initiative to all frontier regions in India.

GANGTOK  : The Sustainable and Resilient Communities (SRC) Conclave of Civil 20 (C20), one of the official Engagement Groups of the G20, has been inaugurated at Gangtok, Sikkim. Over 200 Indian and international delegates, including policy makers, academicians, and leaders of civil society organizations, are participating in discussions and workshops at the two-day event.

The deliberations revolve around the global policies related to Climate Resilience and Social Justice, Net-Zero Emission Management, Environment Sustainability and Compassion Driven Approaches. The participants would identify the gaps in these areas and brainstorm innovative solutions which will directly impact the policy recommendations to be launched at the C20 Summit in July 2023.

Dignitaries present during the inaugural ceremony included Shri Kunga Nima Lepcha, Hon’ble Minister, Land Revenue & Disaster Management, Govt. of Sikkim; Shri MN Sherpa, Hon’ble Minister for Transport and Power Department, Govt. of Sikkim; Shri Anil Raj Rai (IAS), Secretary, Land Revenue & Disaster Management, Govt. of Sikkim; H.E. Ms Joyce Kakuramatsi Kikafunda, High Commissioner of the Republic of Uganda; Swami Amritaswarupananda Puri, Troika and Steering Committee Member C20 and Vice Chairman, Mata Amritanandamayi Math. Shri Vijay Nambiar, C20 Sherpa, addressed the gathering virtually.

Said Shri Kunga Nima Lepcha, Hon’ble Minister, Land Revenue & Disaster Management, Govt. of Sikkim: “Sustainable and resilient communities are able to meet their present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs, and recover from various environmental, social and economic challenges. Since 2015, the Sikkim Government has taken many measures to promote environmental, social, and economic sustainability, infrastructure and technology, and emergency preparedness. Sikkim has topped in all parameters of Sustainable Development Goals for 2021 in the North-East region. We are the first state in the world to turn fully organic.”

He added: “Being a small Himalayan state subject to various manmade and natural challenges, we are committed to learning from the best practices in the world to secure our future. Many organizations are partnering with Sikkim State Disaster Management Authority regardign this, and I welcome all help, initiatives, and ideas in this direction. All of us in the world need to come together to join hands to secure the future of our next generations. This cannot be done by working in isolation. Despite remarkable diversity, all people need to consider themselves as world citizens so that all mouths can be fed and the nature protected.”

In her video message at the inaugural ceremony, C20 Chair Mata Amritanandamayi Devi (Amma), said: “Humanity is facing many extraordinary challenges today. At this point, human beings need two qualities:  the wisdom to recognize the problem and the intelligence and mental attitude to correct it. Unfortunately, we are like a student who starts studying the day before the exam. We think correctly only when we are on the brink of disaster. The future belongs not to single entities who stand divided, but to those who mingle and cooperate with others. Countries and societies which try to rise on their own will surely fail. This is a warning from nature to mankind. Hence, let our mantra be ‘Mingle, Not Single’. A single nation, race or religion cannot survive in isolation. This earth belongs to us all.”

Amma added: “There is an underlying rhythm to our universe; the universe and every living thing in it have an unbreakable connection to each other. The cosmos is like a vast, interconnected network. Think of a net that is stretched out by four people holding its four corners. If it is shaken slightly in one corner, the vibration is felt all over the net. Similarly, whether we know it or not, all of our actions reverberate throughout creation, whether done by an individual or a group. So let us not think ‘I will change after they do.’ Rather, even if they do not change, if we change, we can bring this change to others. From ancient times, the world is one family has been the mantra of Indian soil. The presidency of G20 nations is a unique opportunity to model this truth before the world. Let us light a new lamp of change here. May innumerable lamps be lit from this flame and carried across the world.”

Said Swami Amritaswarupananda Puri, Troika and Steering Committee Member, C20, and Vice Chairman, Mata Amritanandamayi Math: “As Amma says, the lack of love and respect towards nature is the reason why all our efforts to create sustainable and resilient communities failed to produce the expected results. Our forefathers had a deep love and reverence for nature. They saw the visible diversity in the world with a worshipping attitude while having faith in the limitless power behind the many names and forms. However, modern society lacks this attitude. This needs to change.

Climate change is happening at an unprecedented rate today and can no longer be dismissed as a myth. The change is so severe that according to some calculations, human species may not exist beyond another 50 years. My request to scientifical and technological community is to ensure a symbiosis of science and spirituality so that both work harmoniously. We shouldn’t be suspicious or reluctant to experience and accept the spiritual recommendations offered to us by the ancient seers, especially when all their concerns of end of humanity are on the verge of coming true. Amma highlights the false sense of security provided to us by modern technology which makes us forget the delicate nature of life on this planet. We need to think beyond our borders, diversity, and differences, and see the world from a perspective of oneness, as emphasized by India’s G20 slogan of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam.”

Said Dr. Maneesha V Ramesh, Sustainable and Resilient Working Group Coordinator and Professor, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham: “Guided by the vision of C20 Chair, Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi, this Conclave provides a platform for the civil society organizations and delegates from around the world to engage in deeper dialogues to address the challenges and gaps in the areas of climate resilience, social justice, environmental sustainability and net zero emission management with an aim to help build communities that are sustainable and resilient. I am delighted that the event is being held in partnership with the Sikkim Government. Sikkim is a state which is truly an example of sustainability and resilience. The policy deliberations among a multitude of stakeholders will bring out the recommendations to be provided to the G20 leadership team. I sincerely hope that this will help pave the way to develop scalable models that can be adopted to multiple countries.”

During the event, a seedball distribution campaign was launched in Sikkim by the C20 Sustainable and Resilient Communities (SRC) Working Group, in association with AYUDH, the Mata Amritanandamayi Math’s global youth wing. The global campaign aims to disperse one million seedballs in fragile ecosystems worldwide and create general awareness in people about the significance of seedballs in restoring ecological balance.

The Sustainable and Resilient Communities Working group, one of the 14 working groups formed under Civil 20 India 2023, is focussed on the areas of Climate, Environment and Net Zero Targets. The Working Group (WG) quintessentially addresses the current critical issues related to climate resilience and social justice, environmental sustainability, net zero emission management, and showcases the importance of compassionate approaches for building sustainable and resilient communities.

The G20 (Group of 20) is a forum comprising 19 countries and the European Union. It works to address major issues related to the global economy. C20 provides a platform for Civil Society Organizations (CSO) around the world to voice people’s aspirations to the world leaders in G20.

New Delhi: The B20 meeting under India’s G20 Presidency began on Thursday in Sikkim’s capital Gangtok. The meeting was attended by more than 100 delegates including around 50 foreign delegates from 24 countries. In the meeting, the vibrant organic farming of the state was displayed prominently in front of the world through the B20 programme. It also focused on exploring opportunities for cooperation in industries such as tourism, hospitality and pharmaceuticals. Meanwhile, Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang addressed the delegates participating in the conference. He appealed for support to establish Sikkim as the ‘Greenest Agro-ecological Destination’ in the world. He said that Sikkim needs such green technology which can ensure better production from limited agricultural land.

Chief Minister Tamang stressed the need for capacity development of the new generation of farmers in the state as well as the need to provide them new methods of training on organic farming. The title of the B20 meeting was ‘Conference on Opportunities for Multilateral Business Partnership in Tourism, Hospitality, Pharmaceuticals and Organic Farming’. The meeting also included B2B and B2G events involving government officials, policy makers, business leaders, CEOs, representatives of multilateral organizations and local entrepreneurs. Speaking on the occasion, Chief Secretary, Sikkim, VB Pathak said that Sikkim is a leader in the protection and conservation of its natural resources. It promotes green investment and is ideal for business opportunities. During this, an exhibition was organized for local entrepreneurs at MG Marg.

The meeting is providing an opportunity for Sikkim to unleash economic potential and pave the way for partnership with business communities of G20 countries. The Startup 20 event is scheduled on March 18 and 19 in Gangtok. Sikkim is hosting the third of the four B20 events scheduled in the Northeast under India’s G20 Presidency. The B20 is the official G20 dialogue forum with the global business community and one of the G20’s most prominent engagement groups.

Earlier, representatives of various G20 countries reached Sikkim on Wednesday to participate in the B20 meeting. The visiting delegates will also be given a comprehensive experience of the culture, cuisine, heritage and natural beauty of Sikkim. The B20 was formed in 2010 and is the official G20 dialogue forum with the global business community.

On the second day of his three-day tour to Sikkim, Union Minister Piyush Goyal will visit the Atal Incubation Centre, SMU Technology Business Incubation Foundation at the Sikkim Manipal Institute of Technology in Majhitar today, February 18.

Mr. Goyal arrived in Sikkim yesterday and chaired meetings with state government officials, entrepreneurs and BJP party members. AIR correspondent reports, at the SMU Technology Business Incubation Foundation of the Sikkim Manipal Institute of Technology, union minister Piyush Goyal will interact with startup founders and students today, February 18.

Briefing media persons on his review meetings on central schemes and interaction with entrepreneurs in Gangtok yesterday, Mr. Goyal stressed that Sikkim should aim to increase the current $1 million revenue from organic produce exports to $1 billion by 2030.

Highlighting Sikkim’s potential to become a sustainable and organic state, he also announced the establishment of an organic product testing facility in the state. Mr Goyal added that the central government is ready to set up designing and packaging institutes in Sikkim if the state government provides land. Mr. Goyal is also scheduled to visit the Soreng district during the three-day tour.

SRINAGAR : In a historic move to further boost the growth of agriculture and horticulture sector, Agriculture Department of J&K UT, Sikkim Government and Sikkim University today signed a tripartite agreement for collaboration on training, technology, capacity building and extension activities for saffron and other temperate crops.

The agreement was signed in the presence of Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor of J&K, Sh Manoj Sinha and Hon’ble Governor of Sikkim, Sh Ganga Prasad at the Civil Secretariat today.

Hon’ble Governor of Sikkim, Sh Ganga Prasad, in his address, congratulated J&K’s Agriculture Department, Sikkim Government and Sikkim University for the beginning of a new partnership in agri-horticulture sector for both the regions.

This agreement will give a new direction to the efforts for saffron production in Sikkim, besides creating a better understanding of diverse aspects of saffron cultivation and other temperate crops, he added.

Lieutenant Governor, Sh Manoj Sinha said, the historic collaboration will strengthen “Ek Bharat, Shrestha Bharat” initiative of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji.

Research and technical intervention will bridge the gaps in value addition and supply chain infrastructure and help in reducing high post-harvest loss, the Lt Governor added.

Sikkim being the first organic state in India has the expertise on organic production technologies and certification. The collaboration will immensely help J&K to provide solutions and policy prescription for the organic farmers in the UT, observed the Lt Governor.

He said that the exchange of knowledge, best practices, and technical interventions will go a long way in promoting Social & Ecological Sustainability and Economic Sustainability in Agriculture, Horticulture and allied sectors.

On the occasion, the Lt Governor highlighted the efforts of the UT Government to bring Agricultural reforms and provide maximum benefits to the farming community.

Outlining the focus of the UT government on agriculture sector during the last two years, he said that government support and credit facilities have been significantly enhanced and special attention is being paid to improve the productivity of small and marginal farmers, as also of Kandi areas of Jammu Division.

Agriculture Universities in the UT are playing a major role in promoting reforms and supporting diversification in the field of agriculture and horticulture, providing solutions, extending handholding to the farmers to meet the future requirements, the Lt Governor observed.

Underscoring that Agriculture is the mainstay of J&K’s economy and 70% of the population is dependent on it, the Lt Governor said, in this year’s budget, an amount of Rs 2835 crore has been allocated for agriculture and Rs 646 crore for horticulture sector, besides for the development of dairy and sheep sector, Rs 392 crore has been allocated separately so that positive changes can be made in the lives of the farmers and progress of villages can be given a new direction altogether.

Sh Lok Nath Sharma, Minister of Agriculture, Sikkim, expressed gratitude to the J&K Government, Sikkim Government and all the stakeholders for taking a significant step towards the holistic development of agriculture and horticulture sector.

Sh Atal Dulloo, Additional Chief Secretary, Agriculture Production Department, J&K while speaking on the occasion, highlighted the significance of the tripartite agreement, besides efforts of the government to promote Saffron cultivation.

Professor Avinash Khare, Vice Chancellor, Sikkim University also shared his views on opening up new avenues and exploring possibilities of diversification in cultivation of saffron and other temperate crops.

Chowdhary Mohammad Iqbal, Director, Department of Agriculture Production & Farmers Welfare Kashmir presented the Vote of Thanks.

A PowerPoint presentation on Study and Cultivation of Saffron in Sikkim – An outreach programme of Sikkim University was also presented on the occasion.

Dr Arun Kumar Mehta, Chief Secretary; Prof Nazir Ahmad Ganai, Vice-Chancellor, SKUAST Kashmir; Ms. Shabnam Kamili, Secretary, Agriculture Production and Farmers’ Welfare Department, besides HoDs, senior officials of J&K administration, Sikkim Government and Sikkim University were present on the occasion.

The Vice President, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu today called upon universities to encourage scientific research in traditional knowledge systems such as organic farming and medicinal systems and ‘rediscover our intellectual capital’ in a systematic way.

Shri Naidu appreciated Sikkim, a leader in organic farming, for having started vocational training on the subject in all its secondary and senior secondary schools, apart from bringing out new primary textbooks with focus on sustainable development.

The Vice President was laying the foundation stone virtually for the Khangchendzonga State University in Sikkim. Shri Naidu, who is on a four-day tour of Mizoram and Sikkim, arrived in Gangtok today.

Stressing on the important role of universities in fast-tracking all-round development, Shri Naidu observed that ‘with quality higher education, Sikkim can be a pace setter in making education an important catalyst for sustainable development’.

Shri Naidu said that universities in the region must develop linkages with the industry and local institutions to design innovative solutions to problems that are specific to the region. “In other words, think globally but act locally”, he said and urged students to take advantage of the region’s natural strengths in eco-tourism, horticulture and handicrafts and strive for excellence.

Noting the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the education sector in India, Shri Naidu said that education cannot remain static and called for innovation and adaptation to the changing market demands.

Observing that the digital component of education would be a permanent feature, Shri Naidu called for democratizing technology to make learning opportunities more accessible and affordable for rural students. He also called upon central and state governments to give a boost to the development of quality digital content in local and regional languages.

Observing that the pandemic has highlighted the importance of physical education, Shri Naidu advised educators and parents to ensure the participation of students in regular physical activities. He added that students must be encouraged to spend some time in the lap of nature.

The Vice President also suggested that ‘academic curricula must be constantly updated and upgraded and students must be upskilled to face the new challenges and changing market demands’. Calling for flexibility and dynamism in courses, ‘innovation should be the watchword, going forward, especially for higher education’, he stressed.

Lauding Sikkim’s efforts in higher education, Shri Naidu noted that the state has the highest Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) in Higher Education at 75.8%. He also appreciated the setting up of the Sikkim Education Reforms Commission (SERC) headed by the Chief Minister to ensure sincere implementation of NEP, 2020. “I compliment the state government for its proactive role in shaping Sikkim as the educational hub in the North East”, he said.

Later in the day, the Vice President briefly interacted with a group of students from Sikkim who were recently evacuated from Ukraine. He expressed happiness that the students, who were stranded in the conflict zone, could reach Sikkim safely with the active coordination between the Government of India and the State government.

Later, Shri Naidu unveiled a statue of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose at Raj Bhawan, Sikkim in the presence of various officials and dignitaries. Shri Naidu also witnessed performances of folk songs and dances of Sikkim at a cultural event hosted by the Governor of Sikkim.

Governor of Sikkim, Shri Ganga Prasad, Chief Minister of Sikkim, Shri Prem Singh Tamang, Minister, Government of Sikkim, Shri K. N. Lepcha, Minister, Government of Sikkim, Shri B. S. Panth, public representatives, students, professors and other dignitaries participated in the foundation laying ceremony of the KSU.

Following is the full text of the speech:

“Sisters and brothers,

I am very pleased to lay the foundation stone of the Kangchenjunga State University (KSU) today. This is the first ever University of the State Government and I am sure that this institution will set new benchmarks and become an exemplar in imparting quality education.

As you all are aware, universities and other higher education institutions play a critical role in nation-building and taking India to greater heights in the education sector. In laying the foundation stone today for this state university, we are collectively laying the foundation for a more prosperous, developed Sikkim where learning becomes a key lever for sustainable progress.

I am happy to note that as per the latest All India Survey of Higher Education (AISHE) report, the Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) of Sikkim state in Higher Education stands at 75.8% which is the highest in India. Another noteworthy development is that the government of Sikkim has constituted the Sikkim Education Reforms Commission (SERC) to ensure sincere implementation of NEP, 2020 headed by the Chief Minister. These are commendable measures and I compliment the state government for its pro-active role in shaping Sikkim as the educational hub in the North East.

Sisters and brothers,

The National Education Policy (NEP), 2020 is a visionary document that seeks to strengthen the education sector as a whole. It seeks to bring in the much-needed reforms in both school and higher education in tune with the demands of the 21st century. The NEP 2020 lays special emphasis on pre-primary and primary education, vocational education, improving the quality of teaching, teachers training, creative use of technology, flexibility and excellence in higher education. A sound policy is only the first step. What is critical is how well the NEP gets implemented in our educational institutes.

The states have to implement NEP-2020 with missionary zeal to bring about transformation in the learning-teaching ecosystem and achieve the desired outcomes. I am happy to learn that Sikkim has already initiated a number of steps for effective implementation of the provisions of the NEP and the setting up of a permanent campus of KSU shall be another step in that direction.

Sisters and brothers,

I am particularly pleased to inaugurate this State University because education is potentially one of the most effective tools to fast track all round development in the North Eastern region.

For youth of this region, universities such as this create enormous opportunities to expand their knowledge and acquire new skill sets required for the 21st century. On their part, youth must take full advantage of the opportunities provided to them and strive for excellence in their chosen domains. This region has natural strengths in areas such as eco-tourism, horticulture and handicrafts. They need to be given a special thrust. By leveraging the talent of this region’s young and enterprising population, we need to build sustainable business models that will ultimately benefit the people of the state.

Universities like this must collaborate with some of the reputed academic institutions within India as well as other parts of the world to promote cutting-edge research. While largely focusing on academic activities, universities must develop linkages with the industry and local institutions to design innovative solutions to problems that are specific to the region. In other words, think globally but act locally.

Lastly, universities must encourage research into the traditional knowledge systems, for instance organic farming and the medicinal system – Sowa Rigpa in the case of Sikkim. The idea should be to rediscover our intellectual capital and systematically and scientifically build on the knowledge base inherited collectively.

In this regard, it is heartening to know that Sikkim, which is a leader in organic farming, has started vocational training on the subject in all its Secondary and Senior Secondary schools. I am told that Sikkim has also brought out new primary textbooks with focus on sustainable development. With quality research facilities being developed in the Higher Education sector, Sikkim be a pace setter in making education an important catalyst for sustainable development.

I am also happy to learn that the state government is setting up a University of Excellence at Chakung, West Sikkim and dedicate it to Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose. This University of Excellence shall create a knowledge repository about flora and fauna, people, their culture and heritage, apart from environment and climate change of this part of the country with special focus on Eastern Himalayas. This will keep the ancient heritage of Sikkim alive and thriving for many  generations to come. It is indeed a great and fitting tribute to Netaji in the 75th year of Independence, when the entire country is celebrating Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav.

Sisters and Borthers,

The COVID-19 pandemic created a huge upheaval for the education sector when schools and colleges had to be closed for a very long period, abruptly forcing education to go completely online. Sikkim state, which has a difficult terrain and poor network connectivity, had to face multiple challenges in switching to online education. However, I am happy to notethat the state has conducted online classes to bridge the learning deficit and also started homeschooling. I am also told the State also launched a dedicated App for its senior students and has imparted training for its teachers virtually. These are truly commendable efforts.

Now, with more than 180 crore vaccine doses administered and COVID-19 cases in the country tapering off, many educational institutions are opening up for students to attend classes physically.

As we transition back to our classrooms- through a variety of hybrid modes, it is important to reflect on our existing systems. We must try to understand the structural weaknesses that have become evident during the pandemic and bring out innovative solutions.

For instance, the digital component of education is here to stay. We must democratize the technology needed for this – cheaper electronic devices, faster internet connectivity and open-source digital portals, thereby making learning opportunities more accessible and affordable for rural students. Digital content in Indian languages is also at a nascent stage. Central and state governments must give a boost to the development of quality digital content in local and regional languages.

Similarly, the pandemic has also highlighted the importance of a key aspect of education- that of physical education. Experts have suggested that confinement of students to homes during the last year without any physical activity or social interaction has had an impact on their mental and emotional well-being. As we move back to offline classrooms, educators and parents must ensure that students have adequate physical activities. Students must be encouraged to spend some time in the lap of nature. We must implement this key take away from the experience of education during the pandemic.

The pandemic has also taught us the importance of adapting to sudden and unexpected situations. This must reflect in our education system, which cannot remain static. We should constantly update and upgrade our curricula and upskill our students to face the new challenges. Students must be kept abreast of the latest technological developments, new job roles and changing market demands. Courses too, should be dynamic and allow for flexibility. Innovation should be the watchword, going forward, especially for higher education.

Sisters and brothers,

Sikkim is clearly putting in inspired efforts in education and I wish it all the success in the years to come. It is my sincere desire to see at least 10 universities from the North Eastern region in the top 100 institutions in the NIRF (National Institutional Ranking Framework) of the country. I believe this is possible in the near future and my best wishes to Sikkim to lead the way.

Once again, I am very happy to have laid the foundation stone for this University. My best wishes to the University for its future endeavours.

Namaskar. Jai Hind!”

*****

New Delhi : Corona pandemic has engulfed the globe. The whole world has come under its grip and every country has suffered in one way or other. The COVID-19 second wave has hit India very hard. Sikkim is no exception. Despite limited resources the Sikkim Government under the leadership of ShriPrem Singh TamangGolay is extensively working day & night to contain the virus. The government has mobilized all its departments concerned and resources to tackle the challenges posed by the pandemic.

The government has activated all its wings from the highest (state) level to the lowest (village) level. All powerful State Task Force (STF) has been constituted involving all the concerned departments. All blocks (32 in number) of the state have created Village COVID Management Committees (VCMCs) at village level under their jurisdiction. Under the direction of Shri P. S. TamangGolay, the CM, the Sikkim Krantikari Party has constituted “Constituency Level COVID Management Committees” (CLCMC) in all 32 assembly constituencies of the state to facilitate and support the government machinery and the people in need or in emergency during the pandemic period. All hospitals, CHCs, PHCs, PHSC, ASHA & AGANWADI workers, panchayats and councillors across the state are working in tandem tirelessly. The offices of DMs, SDMs, BDOs and MEOs are functioning on a 24×7 basis.

The government is providing free medical kits and ration at the doorstep of all COVID positive patients in home isolation or in COVID Care Centres across the state. The government has provided Rs. 10,000/- (Ten thousand only) to all 667 ASHA workers of the state as an incentive towards their dedicated service during the pandemic. Recently, the Hon’ble Chief Minister also laid the foundation stone for a 300 bedded hospital with modern facilities at Namchi, South Sikkim to cater to the people from South and West district. In address during the event, the Hon’ble Chief Minister stated that health and education has been a top most priority of the government and will continue to enhance related facilities and infrastructure in the state

Shri P.S. TamangGolay, the CM, is available 24×7 for COVID emergencies. The CM has created COVID Co-ordination Cell (CCC) in his office that functions 24×7. ShriGolay personally monitors all COVID related emergencies & activities. Seriousness, proactiveness, humility and concern for his people are the basic traits of Shri Golay’s personality.

Gangtok: Chief Minister Shri Prem Singh Tamang (Golay) formally launched the Su-Swastha Yojana under Health and Family Welfare Department, Government of Sikkim, at a function held at Manan Kendra.

The Su-Swastha yojana is the flagship programme of the State Government and is a cashless scheme. It aims to provide Government employees the access to qualitative cashless healthcare service in empanelled hospitals across the country, and covers up to Rs 10 lakhs for the government servants and their dependent family members by paying a nominal premium.

While rolling out the Su-Swastha website and enrolment portal, the Chief Minister highlighted the efforts taken by the State Government to improve the health sector in the State. He said that the Su-Swastha Yojana is an initiative undertaken by the State Government to provide health insurance to the Government employees of Sikkim. With rising medical expenses, health insurance has now become imperative. The cashless health insurance basically removes the hassles of having to pay cash at the hospitals of the insured person(s) in the time of need, thereby focusing more on treatments, he added. He also urged the Government employees to avail the health insurance scheme implemented by the State Government.

The Chief Minister further added that healthcare has become topmost priority of every individual now -a-days as unprecedented pandemic of Covid-19 has caused massive distress to thousands across the globe. In the same manner, he also appealed the people to adopt the core value of COVID-19 appropriate behaviour at all times and avoid unnecessary movements to curb the transmission of virus.

The Chief Minister stated that the Government has stood by its commitment to strengthening the health sector and has set a benchmark in many sectors with different initiatives and successful implementation of various schemes and programmes. He also outlined various measures undertaken in the health sector to augment the facilities and provide a better health care services to the people of the State by setting up of dialysis centres in the districts, tertiary Cancer Care Centre in STNM Hospital, Viral lab testing etc. He also pointed out various medical facilities established at the district level as well to deal with medical emergencies in these trying times.

The Chief Minister also lauded the efforts of the concerned departments who have been selflessly dedicating themselves towards ensuring the safety and security of the people.

He also directed the SWADHI health private limited, also a service provider of the scheme to monitor, support and assist the insured persons to avail the facilities.

During the course of the programme, two employee beneficiaries were also distributed a token of Su-Swastha Health Card by the Chief Minister.