PAKYONG: Following the inauguration of the 1st Rhenock Sikkim Paragliding Accuracy Championship 2026, the Chief Minister, Mr Prem Singh Tamang-Golay, attended the Flying Festival and Championship events at Rorathang, Titribotey Taza, Rhenock, organised by the Rhenock Tourism Development Society (RTDS) in collaboration with the Tourism and Civil Aviation Department.
The events had the presence of Minister, Education, Sports & Youth Affairs, Law & Parliamentary Affairs Departments, Mr Raju Basnet; Minister, Agriculture, Horticulture, Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services (AH&VS), and Fisheries Department, Mr Puran Gurung; MLA cum Advisor for Women, Child, Senior Citizen and Divyangjan Welfare Department; Ms Pamin Lepcha and MLA cum Advisor for Information Technology (IT) and Land Revenue and Disaster Management Department, Mr LB Das and Advisor to HCM, Mr Bishnu Kumar Khatiwada.
Also present were Zilla Upadhakshya Pakyong; Chairman and Chairperson from various departments, Head of Departments; along with CA to Chief Minister, OSDs and officials from various line departments and general public.
Addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister described the event as a historic milestone for the region and highlighted the growing potential of paragliding tourism in Sikkim. He appreciated the efforts of RTDS and stated that the organisation was formed with a clear vision of promoting development and tourism in the area. He extended his best wishes to RTDS for the successful achievement of its objectives.
Speaking on the importance of sports, the Chief Minister stated that sports is not merely a form of recreation but a vital tool for building discipline, leadership, physical fitness and national pride. He informed that the Government of Sikkim has been consistently working towards strengthening sports infrastructure, identifying young talent, supporting sportspersons and preparing them for higher levels of competition. He added that the development of playgrounds, multipurpose stadiums and training centres from rural to urban areas remains a key priority.
Encouraging the youth, the Chief Minister urged them to take up entrepreneurship not merely as an option but as a meaningful pathway towards self-reliance and economic growth. He stated that while the Government creates opportunities, it is the responsibility of the youth to utilise them effectively through dedication, hard work and commitment, which would ultimately contribute towards making Sikkim self-reliant.
The Chief Minister also spoke about the Sabbatical Leave Scheme for State Government employees, which allows leave for personal growth, education, or entrepreneurship, with 50 percent of basic pay for a period of up to three years. He said the initiative enables young minds to explore new ideas and opportunities.
Highlighting employment initiatives, he spoke about the “One Family, One Entrepreneur” (OFOE) initiative and the Chief Minister’s Self Employment Scheme (CMSES), which provide financial assistance and institutional support to unemployed youth, including educated individuals and trained beneficiaries from livelihood schools, enabling them to establish enterprises in various sectors. He expressed satisfaction over the success stories of many young entrepreneurs supported through Government assistance and emphasised the need to further strengthen work culture.
On tourism development, the Chief Minister encouraged local communities to come forward with innovative ideas such as homestays and eco-based tourism. He stressed the importance of preserving the natural authenticity of the area, stating that a strong connection with nature and culture would significantly attract tourists.
Earlier, the President of RTDS, Mr Binod Subba, addressed the gathering and briefed on the vision of the Rhenock Tourism Development Society, which focuses on promoting tourism-led development in the area. He informed that the initiative was conceptualised after conducting detailed surveys, following which paragliding was identified as a key tourism activity. He also placed various demands before the Government pertaining to infrastructure and overall development of the region.
Paragliding Technical Head, Mr Arjun Rai, briefed the gathering on the technical and developmental aspects of paragliding activities. He presented technical reports and highlighted the history and progress of paragliding in Sikkim, including several successful paragliding operations in the State.
During the programme, Sikkim Garib Awas Yojana (SGAY) allotments were distributed to 21 beneficiaries. A camera was formally handed over to Mr Milan Rai as per his application submitted during the Janta Bhet Ghat programme. Chief Minister’s Discretionary Grant (CMDG) cheques were also distributed to the beneficiaries.Also, the land donors were felicitated for their valuable contribution.
The event concluded with the distribution of trophies and certificates to the winners of the Paragliding Accuracy Championship 2026.
In the Solo Championship category:
1st Position: Sonam Ladakhe, Ladakh
2nd Position: Yuvraj Sunar, Nepal
3rd Position: Roshan Basnet, Nepal
In the Team Championship category:
1st Position: Team Nepal
2nd Position: Barkala Team
3rd Position: Team Lachung
- IPR Report
