Soreng–Chakung legislator Aditya Golay on Thursday raised the issue of extending the second phase of the Vibrant Villages Initiative (VVI) to the border areas of Soreng district during the ongoing Assembly session, underscoring the strategic and developmental importance of the region.
Speaking in the House, Aditya said he has urged the State government to include constituencies such as Soreng, Daramdin and Rinchenpong under the programme, noting that several villages in these areas lie along the India–Nepal border.
He pointed out that earlier, the Border Area Development Programme (BADP) served as the primary funding mechanism for such regions, with Soreng district receiving allocations, particularly after 2021.
With Phase II of the VVI now being rolled out, Aditya expressed optimism that more focused and public-centric development interventions would follow.
However, he clarified that the exact list of villages to be covered is yet to be confirmed. “I will have to sit with the concerned department to ascertain which villages are included, but I am hopeful that my constituency and adjoining border areas will be considered,” he said.
Highlighting cross-border connectivity, Aditya also referred to Chewabhanjyang, which falls under the Soreng constituency and is being developed as a multi-modal trade corridor linking Sikkim with Nepal. He said that trade through the corridor is “definitely in the loop” and is expected to gain momentum alongside infrastructure development.
Chief Minister Prem Singh Golay, in his address to the Assembly, contextualised the initiative by referring to the Indo–Nepal Treaty of 1950, which allows the free movement of people between the two countries.
He said this framework strengthens the case for developing trade routes such as Chewabhanjyang, which could enhance both passenger and goods movement.
The Chief Minister added that Kathmandu could be reached in approximately seven hours via the Chewabhanjyang route, underlining its potential to transform regional connectivity.
He also noted that the Vibrant Villages Initiative has covered areas in Soreng and Geyzing districts and is being extended to other regions, including Pakyong district and Dzongu in Mangan district.
On tourism, Aditya thanked Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman for including Sikkim in the proposed Buddhist circuit development. He highlighted locations such as Sribadam, Gumpa Dara, Singling, Daramdin and Dodak, which house historically significant monasteries.
He further pointed out that, with the ongoing construction of Vrindavan Dham in Dodak, there is potential to develop a religious tourism circuit across Soreng and adjoining constituencies. Such initiatives, he noted, could provide a boost to tourism and allied sectors.
Aditya maintained that schemes like the Vibrant Villages Programme would enable the creation of essential public infrastructure, including community facilities and basic amenities, thereby strengthening livelihoods in border areas while enhancing their strategic importance.
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