Gangtok: Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang hit back at claims of state insolvency on July 23. He called the reports of financial trouble baseless rumors. He defended the state's fiscal health by pointing to the recent ₹18,455-crore budget. The government continues to pay all salaries on time.
Tamang noted that the state utilizes only 8.45 per cent of revenue for debt servicing. Borrowings stay within Reserve Bank of India limits tied to the Gross State Domestic Product. "If the government were bankrupt, we would not have been able to present an ₹18,455-crore budget or continue paying salaries on time," Tamang said. He stressed that loans fund productive public assets rather than routine spending.
The government is launching several new initiatives. Farmers using Kisan Credit Cards will pay just one per cent interest on timely repayments. The Chief Minister Self Employment Assistance Scheme offers up to ₹5 lakh for dairy, agriculture, and piggery work without needing collateral.
Medical and infrastructure plans are moving forward. STNM Hospital will soon perform kidney transplants. Women aged 30 to 65 will get free cervical cancer screenings. Crews will pave 570 kilometres of roads to boost tourism and market access. Construction is also underway for a Convention Centre and an Integrated Culture and Sports Village.
The Srimati Sikkim Lepcha Medical College will open with 100 MBBS seats. Local students get 50 tuition-free merit spots, with extra support for those in need. The state also secured additional medical seats in Manipur. Tamang credited stronger GST collections and tighter monitoring for the stable fiscal position.
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