“Follow Sikkim’s Example”: Union Minister Kiren Rijiju Praises State at National Chintan Shivir

Rajgir (Bihar)/Gangtok, February 19, 2026 — At the high-profile two-day national ‘Chintan Shivir’ held at Nalanda University in Bihar, Sikkim emerged as a shining example of governance, with Union Minister for Minority Affairs, Kiren Rijiju, praising the Himalayan state for its expeditious execution of development projects.

The Chintan Shivir, organized by the Ministry of Minority Affairs on February 18–19, served as a massive brainstorming session to chart an action-oriented roadmap for minority welfare.

A high-level delegation from Sikkim, led by Social Welfare Minister Shri Samdup Lepcha, actively participated in the summit. The delegation included Secretary Ms. Sarika Pradhan, Chief Engineer Shri Thinley Gyatso Chankapa, and Special Secretaries Shri Satyen Pradhan and Smt. Bandana Chettri.

During the focused group discussions, Minister Lepcha thanked the Union Ministry for sanctioning crucial health and educational projects that have significantly uplifted minority populations in Sikkim.

However, the Minister also utilized the national platform to highlight specific implementation challenges faced by the state under the PMJVK (Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakram) and PMVIKAS schemes. Crucially, he presented a detailed status report on the Buddhist Development Project for Sikkim, urging the Centre for continued financial and administrative support to bolster health, sports, and educational infrastructure.

The summit, set against the historic and symbolic backdrop of Nalanda University, witnessed the launch of major digital initiatives by Union Minister Kiren Rijiju. These included:

• The PMJVK Mobile App (NIGRANI) for real-time project monitoring.

• The Haj Suvidha Smart Wrist Band for pilgrim safety.

• An AI-enabled Chatbot on the Ministry’s portal to streamline citizen services.

Deliberations over the two days centered on five core themes: Infrastructure Development, Socio-economic Empowerment, Waqf Management, Haj Management, and Scholarship Schemes.

The event concluded with high praise for Sikkim’s administrative efficiency. In his closing remarks, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju emphasized the absolute necessity of Centre-State coordination.

Citing Sikkim as a prime example of effective governance, Rijiju lauded the State’s Social Welfare Department for its speedy and transparent implementation of minority projects. He openly encouraged other states across the country to adopt Sikkim’s exemplary approach and prioritize the timely completion of development initiatives to ensure the welfare of minority communities.