Sikkim aiming to become India's first poverty-free state: CM Chamling
Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Kumar Chamling today said the state has excelled in reducing poverty levels during the last 24 years and is now aiming to become India's first poverty-free state. "According to United Nations, there's no other country or state in the world after WW II to record the steepest fall in poverty level as quickly as Sikkim has done," Chamling said.
Not a single life lost due to religious differences: Chamling
While speaking on the occasion of Independence Day in Gangtok, Chamling said, "There has not been a single case of desecration of religious centers like mandirs, gompas, or churches and not a single life was lost due to religious differences and riots owing to peoples faiths and beliefs." Chamling said despite having three international borders, China, Bhutan), Sikkim has seen unprecedented people-friendly policies.
Sikkim's poverty levels came down to 8.19% in 2011-12: Chamling
Sikkim's poverty levels came down from 30.9% in 2004-05 to 8.19% in 2011-12, a decline of 22 percentage points, due to state's "inclusive and equitable development program", Chamling said. GSDP growth of Sikkim has been very positive touching an impressive 22.8% in 2013-14. Life expectancy of people has significantly gone up from the average 62.7 years in 1990 to 73.15 years in 2016.
