Sikkim MP calls for urgent infrastructure boost, warns of security and development lag

Rajya Sabha MP DT Lepcha has urged the Central Government to prioritise infrastructure development in Sikkim, warning that the state’s strategic location and difficult terrain demand immediate action. His appeal came during a Parliament session, where he highlighted the growing disparity between remote Himalayan states and the rest of the country.

“I am pleased to inform you that Sikkim is celebrating the golden jubilee of its statehood. At this historic juncture, I wish to draw the government’s attention towards the need for accelerated infrastructure development in our state,” Lepcha said, pointing to the state’s proximity to international borders with China, Bhutan, and Nepal.

Citing slow progress in basic amenities, the MP said the lack of robust road networks, healthcare, education, communication, and power facilities in rural areas was holding back the region's economic potential and posing risks to national security. “In a limited time, we are unable to access all essential facilities,” he told the House.

Lepcha aligned his remarks with the government’s broader vision of a developed India by 2047, and referenced Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas” motto. He said that states with smaller populations and more complex geography must receive targeted support if India hopes to achieve inclusive national growth.

Calling for a balanced development model, he stressed that Sikkim and similar regions should not be sidelined in long-term planning. “Only through equal and inclusive growth can we collectively realise the dream of a developed India by 2047,” Lepcha said.