Gangtok: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, during a post-budget meeting in Gangtok, advised that Sikkim should develop a plan to expand organic farming in the state after consulting with different stakeholders because it has the obvious benefit of being India's first completely organic state.

“Due to improved price realisation, the state should look for chances in exports and have a clear success map showing the different phases of organic agricultural development. Millets should be a part of the strategy as well,” she continued.
By putting organic principles into effect on agricultural land, Sikkim became the first completely organic state in India in 2016.

Sitharaman also requested Vivek Joshi, the Secretary of the Department of Financial Services (DFS), to travel to Gangtok and meet with the State Level Banker Committee (SLBC) in order to conduct a thorough evaluation of each bank’s efforts to promote specific government programmes and make sure that no district is overlooked.

According to the One District One Product programme, “the banks can also fund the shared facility centres”, she continued.

In order for startups to address communication problems and offer answers to the powerful pharma sector, Sitharaman added that Sikkim should join the national startup environment.

Speaking about the distribution of interest-free loans to states for capital expenditures, finance secretary TV Somanathan stated that the North Eastern states’ percentage in these loans is greater than their share in the national decentralisation as suggested by the 15th Finance Commission.

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