GANGTOK, May 18 � Sikkim State Day was celebrated at Chintan Bhawan here with the felicitation to various personalities who have contributed to the society in the field of social service, sports, music, arts and literature, etc.
Nine personalities from various walks of life were conferred with Sikkim Sewa Ratna and twenty personalities were felicitated with Sikkim Sewa Samman from the Governor of Sikkim and Chief Minister. LD Kazi Award for Democratic Movement was conferred to Man Bahadur Tamang of East Sikkim for his role in the democratic movement of the State.
The Governor also presented the Jeevan Raksha Padak to Vivek Sharma who had received the award during the year 2011 from the President for saving the life of a child.
The programme also saw release of three books � Coffee Table pictorial book and a narrative documentation on Sikkim Bhraman published by Information and Public Relations Department, Government of Sikkim and Ethno Ornithology of Lepchas of Sikkim written by Vanya Jha and Ajeya Jha by the Governor and Chief Minister.
The Governor while addressing the gathering said that the evolution of political democracy in Sikkim has helped in empowerment of Sikkimese people through education, healthcare and creation of infrastructure.
It is for us and particularly our younger generation to ensure that we do not create such layers of life in our society where wealth gets concentrated in the hands of a few and the majority are denied economic opportunities, he said. The Governor during his address appreciated the schemes of the government for the upliftment of the people and the society and made a special mention of the CM�s Meritorious Scholorship Programme, CATCH and 10 minutes to Earth which he said are symbolic to the steps taken by the State Government on education, health and environment.
The Chief Minister during his address talked about the evolution of the democratic movement in the State and remembered the leaders who had their role in the democratic movement of the State. He also said that Sikkim is reaping the fruits of democratic dividend in the name of development which has been established in the State.
