States / Sikkim

Background 

Sikkim is a north-eastern state of India, sharing its borders with West Bengal in India and countries like Bhutan, Nepal and China. Being part of the eastern Himalayas, the state has a rich biodiversity which includes glaciers, alpine meadows, subtropical climates and a wide variety of wildflowers. The state is the least populous with a total population of 610,577 and is also the second smallest (7,096 km2 area) among Indian states. Out of total population of Sikkim, only 25.15% people live in urban area. The literacy rate of the state stands at 81.42% according to 2011 census. The state has a total SC population of 4.63% and ST population of 33.79%. In the year 1993, the Sikkim Panchayat Act was enacted to establish two tier system at village and district level in line with the 73rd Amendment of the Constitution. The state has 4 districts, 9 blocks and 175 Gram Panchayats.

Kudumbashree NRO has been working with Sikkim SRLM for implementing special project in the state. 

Special Project 

The engagement with Sikkim SRLM and Kudumbashree National Resource Organization (KS- NRO) was initiated with the signing of MoU in October 2015. KS-NRO has been supporting Sikkim SRLM for implementing the special convergence project in a phase wise manner. The partnership was initiated in three blocks of Sikkim in phase I of the project during January 2016. The block covered for the same are Passingdong in North Sikkim and Khamdong and Regu in East Sikkim. During Phase 1 activities, KS-NRO supported for the formation of new SHGs and streamlining of the old ones in these GPUs by deploying Mentor Resource Persons. For SHG formation in the three selected blocks, 31 master trainers were selected by the SRLM and were trained by Kudumbashree NRO. The SHGs were given training on SHG functioning and book keeping. Master trainers were given training on WDS formation and Micro Credit Investment Plan preparation.

The phase II activities commenced in September 2016 with an orientation of the SRLM staffs on the project. During second phase of intervention, the project was initiated in additional four more blocks namely Duga, Rhenock, Pakyong and Kabi. MCP training was given to the Block Resource Persons and new Block Program Managers of Sikkim SRLM. The activities conducted include formation and streamlining of SHGs under NRLM fold, identification of Ward Resource Persons (WRPs), formation of WDS and preparation of Micro Credit Investment Plan (MCP).

Phase III of work in Sikkim started in August 2017. Seven new blocks were identified in North and East Sikkim. The work in these new blocks comprised of formation of SHGs, streamlining any existing SHGs and bringing them under the NRLM fold. The SHGs were to be trained in the matters relating to SHG functioning, book keeping and governance processes.