In Gangtok, the entrepreneurial dreams of local youth are being crushed under the weight of unrealistic and unaffordable rents charged by private building owners. Many young, aspiring entrepreneurs find themselves unable to sustain their businesses while paying exorbitant rents to private landlords. At the same time, they are unable to access government-owned spaces, which offer much more affordable rent, due to these properties being occupied by influential individuals.
The situation is further exacerbated by the misuse of government-owned business spaces—originally intended to help unemployed but enterprising youth. These spaces have been taken over by political leaders and powerful figures, who sublet them to outsiders, often at inflated prices. The very properties that were meant to provide opportunities for local youth have instead become a source of frustration and disillusionment.
In the public interest, Swatantra Aawaj has been consistently highlighting these social issues that have largely gone unnoticed by the government. These issues, which directly affect the livelihoods and aspirations of the local youth, require immediate attention and action.
The government has set up various infrastructures to encourage local entrepreneurship, trade, and business development. However, over the years, many of these spaces have quietly slipped into the hands of influential individuals, including politicians and business elites, who have turned them into lucrative sublet arrangements.
As a result, the very infrastructure that was supposed to help the unemployed youth now primarily benefits outsiders or the well-connected. As more and more local youth aspire to open businesses and shops in Gangtok, they are quickly realizing that securing a decent, affordable space is an uphill battle. With rents in private buildings soaring beyond their reach and government spaces controlled by a select few, many are left with no options but to give up on their dreams.
This growing frustration is likely to intensify in the coming days, as the gap between the demand for affordable business spaces and their availability continues to widen.
