In a significant move aimed at securing the future of newborns, Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang launched a pioneering initiative during the ‘Jan Bharosa Sammelan’ in Soreng district. Under the newly introduced ‘Sikkim Sishu Samriddhi Yojana,’ the State Government pledges to establish fixed deposits of Rs 10,800 in the name of each newborn.
CM Tamang outlined the scheme’s mechanics, affirming that the fixed deposit would mature over time, with the accrued sum accessible to the child upon reaching the age of 18.
Sikkim, characterised by its pristine Himalayan landscapes, faces demographic challenges, boasting the country’s lowest population count at 6.10 lakh as per the 2011 census. In response, the State Government has embarked on a series of initiatives to address concerns surrounding an aging populace and declining birth rates.
CM Tamang’s administration has championed policies to incentivise childbirth, including additional benefits for government employees with multiple children, extended maternity leaves for female government workers, and financial assistance for non-working mothers.
Highlighting the urgency of improving local fertility rates, the CM underscored the imperative to reverse the demographic decline, stressing upon the collective responsibility to safeguard the State’s demographic future.
During the gathering in Soreng, he announced a significant milestone for nearly 25,000 temporary government employees, signalling their impending regularisation in Rangpo on February 29. This move follows the recent cabinet approval for the regularisation of government personnel and the reinstatement of the old pension scheme.
Furthermore, the CM unveiled plans to allocate Rs 48 lakh towards the development of homestays, which will lead to job generation and tourism boost across the State. Apart from this, he inaugurated a state-of-the-art fire station in the Soreng district, the newly constructed facility featuring residential quarters and essential amenities in Singling with an investment of Rs 5.5 crore.
