Sikkim CM launches ‘Connect to Earth’ drive, urges weekly barefoot walks, tree planting

Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang, at the official launch of the Connect to Earth and Shramdaan for Green Sikkim initiative, appealed to the people of the state to reconnect with the soil and nature. 
 

Speaking to a gathering of officials and citizens, he said : "While we proudly stand on the earth, we often do so wearing shoes symbolizing the growing distance between people and Mother Earth." He urged everyone to spend at least one moment a week walking barefoot, working with soil, and rebuilding a direct relationship with the land that sustains people.

“We are standing as heroes on this Earth,” said the chief minister, “but we are doing so in shoes. There is a gap between us and Mother Earth.” He pointed that many people, especially the younger generation, have lost touch with their land, often never walking barefoot on it. 

“At the very least, we should spend one moment a week truly connecting with the soil,” he said.

He urged everyone to work with the earth—not just physically, but spiritually too. “When we work with the soil, we receive blessings from Mother Earth, who is like our mother,” he said. “And what greater blessing can there be than that?”

The CM said that this was not a personal campaign but a state-level initiative driven by the government. “I called a meeting because the government believes in this. It is not just my idea—it is a policy direction,” he said.

The forest department, according to Tamang, is already active, holding meetings across districts—from Soreng to Yuksom—to take this idea forward. He also said he is personally monitoring the progress of this initiative.

The programme, he said, is also about health. “We are suffering from diseases like diabetes, liver and kidney issues. Why? Because we’ve disconnected from Mother Earth. In the past, our people ate what they grew. Now we rely on packaged food—even during festivals like Dashain and Tihar.”

He advocated a simple practice: walking barefoot in your own courtyard or field for 2–3 hours. “Walk on the earth. Let the soil touch your skin. You will feel grounded. Your depression and sugar levels will go down,” he said.
 

To make this connection real and practical, Tamang has directed all government offices—even district and subdivision offices—to allocate one day a week to working on the land. “Convert unused spaces around your offices into fertile plots. Send progress updates on WhatsApp every week,” he instructed.

He shared an example, saying that a barren patch of land, if cultivated, could generate up to Rs 50,000. “We have schemes to support this mission,” he added, “but we won’t support those who refuse to work. Giving help to a lazy person is like watering a rock—it gives nothing back.”

He also encouraged officials and the public not to be ashamed of doing manual work. “People laugh when someone in uniform works in the field. But we should ignore them. We must lead.”
 

Tamang said  that Sikkim is more than just Gangtok or Namchi—it is every village, every hill, every corner of the state. He compared the attitude to nature in Sikkim with that of Japan, where every tree is preserved and cherished.

Speaking on the COVID-19 pandemic, the Chief Minister said it taught people that wealth alone is not enough. “What use was money during COVID when we could not save our health? That is why we must take care of nature.”

He proposed a deeply symbolic action—treating trees as family. “When a child is born, plant 108 trees in their name. Make it a religious custom. It’s not just about trees; it’s about securing your child’s future.”

To support this vision, the government has launched the Sishu Samriddhi Yojana (Child Prosperity Scheme). Under the scheme, parents who plant 108 trees in their child’s name will receive Rs 10,800 as a fixed deposit in the child’s name, to mature when the child turns 18.
 

But the initiative won’t stop there. Tamang announced that the government will soon issue an order requiring job applicants to submit proof of tree plantation. “If you want a government job, even at the panchayat level, you must show this certificate,” he said.

The programme is about more than planting trees. It’s about building a way of life that puts nature and the land back at the centre. “Connect to Earth,” the chief minister said. “This is how we heal ourselves. This is how we build Sikkim’s future.”