Joint Secretary, MoRD Reviews Rural Development Schemes During Sikkim Visit from 11th to 15th October
Gangtok, 14 October 2026: Shri Pavanesh Kumar Sharma, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD), Government of India, is on a visit to Sikkim from 11 October to 15 October for a series of field visits and review interactions to assess the implementation of key rural development schemes across the State.
Upon his arrival in Sikkim on the evening of 11 October, he was welcomed in Gangtok by Ms Tshering Lhaden Lachungpa, Special Secretary, Rural Development Department (RDD) cum Mission Director, VB-G RAM-G; Mr Deepak Rai, Joint Secretary, RDD; and other departmental officials.
On 12 October, the first day of his field visit, Shri Sharma visited the Self-Help Group (SHG) Khada-Making Centre at Namcheybong, where he interacted with Lakhpati Didis and reviewed their livelihood activities, income-generation initiatives, and progress towards economic empowerment.
He subsequently visited a Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana–Gramin (PMAY-G) site at Assam Lingzey to assess the progress and quality of the ongoing construction and interact with the beneficiary. He also visited a VB-G RAM-G worksite at Pachay Samsing in Pakyong District, where he inspected the ongoing works and interacted with workers and Panchayat representatives to review implementation at the grassroots level.
On 13 October, he visited Kyongnosla Gram Panchayat Unit (GPU), where he inspected development works and interacted with Panchayat representatives to gain insights into ground-level implementation and the concerns of local institutions. He also visited Gnathang GPU and inspected Amrit Sarovar, gaining first-hand insight into rural asset creation and the challenges associated with implementing development programmes in Sikkim’s high-altitude terrain.
Later that evening, an interaction session was held with the officials and scheme heads of the Rural Development Department at the conference hall of a local hotel in Gangtok. The meeting was attended by the Principal Chief Engineer, RDD; Special Secretary, RDD cum Mission Director, VB-G RAM-G; Special Secretary, RDD (SBM); the Director of Accounts; and other officials from the RDD Head Office.
During the session, the respective scheme heads presented updates on the progress, implementation status, and challenges of key rural development programmes, including the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), VB-G RAM-G, State Rural Livelihoods Mission (SRLM), and PMAY-G.
He appreciated the opportunity to visit Sikkim and gain first-hand insight into the implementation of rural development programmes. He observed that field visits enable officers to understand ground realities and practical challenges beyond their respective areas of work, thereby supporting more informed decision-making.
He also acknowledged the unique challenges faced by Sikkim as a hill State, including scattered habitations, adverse weather conditions, a relatively small population, and limited working seasons. Despite these constraints, he expressed satisfaction with the enthusiasm and commitment demonstrated by departmental officers and field functionaries in implementing rural development programmes.
During the interaction, he enquired about the challenges encountered in implementing various schemes. The concerned officers apprised him of the key issues and field-level constraints, along with the measures being undertaken to address them. The session provided a constructive platform for discussion and the exchange of insights, fostering a better understanding of the challenges involved in implementing rural development initiatives in the State.
On 14 October, Shri Pavanesh Kumar Sharma, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD), Government of India, visited a training centre at Lower Syari under DDUGKY. He further visited the Rural Self Employment Training Institute (RSETI) at Ralep under Khamdong Block, where he held a meeting with the Director of RSETI and engaged in discussions with the faculty members, furthering his engagement with initiatives aimed at promoting rural livelihoods, skill development, and self-employment.
The visit provided an opportunity to review the progress of key rural development schemes, interact with beneficiaries and stakeholders, and gain a better understanding of implementation-related challenges. The field visits and review interactions underscored the importance of ground-level assessments and constructive engagement in strengthening programme implementation and ensuring that the intended benefits of rural development initiatives reach communities across Sikkim
