Photo Courtesy: northeasttoday
Gangtok: Union Minister of State for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises and Labour and Employment, Shobha Karandlaje, visited Gangtok this week to oversee the development of two major infrastructure projects. During her two-day trip, she inspected the construction progress of the PM Ekta Mall near Manan Kendra and the Helen Lepcha Government Medical College located in Sichey.
The PM Ekta Mall is a 106 crore rupee project announced in the 2023 budget. It is designed to showcase traditional crafts, handlooms, and geographical indication products from across India under the One District One Product initiative. The central government is funding the entire project through an interest-free loan that states can repay over 50 years, while the state government provides the necessary land. Officials confirmed the project is slated for completion by 2027.
Karandlaje also toured the site of the Helen Lepcha Government Medical College, which stands as the first government-run medical institution in Sikkim. The college intends to bolster regional healthcare and provide training for 100 MBBS students each year. While assessing the site, the minister examined the lecture theatre and council room to ensure the facility meets the requirements for academic operations.
Reflecting on the progress of these state-led initiatives, the minister reviewed the current status of the construction with senior officials, including PCE-cum-Secretary Chandra Vijay Basnet and PCE Y.N. Gautam, noting that such projects are "aimed at expanding medical education opportunities for students from Sikkim and the North-East region."
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