Gangtok, February 9 Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang met with Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in New Delhi on Monday and expressed her gratitude, along with the Central Government, for the Union Budget's special focus on the North-Eastern Region, particularly the announcement of the Scheme for Development of Buddhist Circuits.
In a Facebook post, Tamang stated that the proposal to support the preservation of Buddhist sites and monasteries, improve connectivity, and enhance pilgrim amenities deeply resonates with the rich cultural and spiritual heritage of Sikkim and has been welcomed by the people.
In the budget, Sitharaman proposed to launch a scheme for the development of Buddhist Circuits in Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Assam, Manipur, Mizoram, and Tripura. The scheme will cover the preservation of temples and monasteries, pilgrimage interpretation centres, connectivity, and pilgrim amenities.
Tamang stated that the discussion with Sitharaman was both enriching and encouraging.
"We remain deeply grateful for the kind attention and valuable guidance extended by the Central Government on matters of vital importance to the progress, prosperity, and overall welfare of our state," he said in the post.
He also conveyed his gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his visionary leadership and constant encouragement, under which states like Sikkim continue to receive unwavering support and inspiration for holistic and people-centric development.