Sikkim
Sikkim, India’s second-smallest in geographical size, is a fast developing State. Its Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) between 2004-05 and 2014-15 expanded at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 18.34 percent to US$ 2.1 billion whereas the Net State Domestic Product (NSDP) expanded at a CAGR of 17.74 per cent to US$ 1.74 billion
Driven primarily by tertiary sectors, the State's economy is largely agrarian which is based on terrace-farming of rice and cultivation of crops such as maize, millet, cardamom, buckwheat, pulses, spices, cereals, oranges, tea etc.
Although Sikkim has only 11% of land under productive cultivation, it has achieved the distinction of becoming India’s first State to be certified as “fully organic” by the Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and some accredited agencies.
On 18 January 2016, the Prime Minister, Mr Narendra Modi, who launched the Sikkim Organic, logo, handed two commendations to the state in recognition of its extraordinary journey towards total organic farming. As of now, 76,392 hectares of Sikkim’s cultivated land is certified as fully organic.
Sikkim’s thrust areas are eco-tourism, MSME, handicrafts & handloom, medicinal & forest based, horticulture & floriculture, food processing, pharmaceuticals, honey & biotechnology.
The Sikkim Government’s mission is to make tourism the principal means of livelihood for its 6 lakh-plus people and develop high-skilled human resources needed for the sector.
Clearly, the state Government aims to give higher impetus to rural tourism as well to make sure rural communities get significant economic benefits. Home stay is one of the integral components of rural tourism. As many as 660 home stays are currently being run.
The mission is designed to provide tourists with a “Feel Sikkim from Within” experience – Sikkim’s way of life, environment, happiness index and cultural strengths.
The Sikkim Government also encourages wellness tourism and pilgrimage tourism for which it regularly conducts a variety of activities at different levels.
Sikkim, which has a hydro potential to produce 8,000 MW, has given green light t29 hydroelectric power plants to independent power producers which are at various stages of construction.
As part of its Mission to provide uninterrupted power supply to all connected consumers as well as unconnected households by way of Intensive Electrification and System Strengthening, Sikkim has launched a comprehensive scheme to strengthen the distribution and transmission system. It aim is also to provide electricity with free connections to all rural and BPL households.
Sikkim, India’s second-smallest in geographical size, is a fast developing State. Its Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) between 2004-05 and 2014-15 expanded at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 18.34 percent to US$ 2.1 billion whereas the Net State Domestic Product (NSDP) expanded at a CAGR of 17.74 per cent to US$ 1.74 billion
Driven primarily by tertiary sectors, the State's economy is largely agrarian which is based on terrace-farming of rice and cultivation of crops such as maize, millet, cardamom, buckwheat, pulses, spices, cereals, oranges, tea etc.
Although Sikkim has only ...