08/07/2025
CM Prem Singh Tamang Leads Sikkim to Create History: SHG Women Appointed to Key Government Posts
In a landmark step towards inclusive governance and gender equality, Sikkim has made history by becoming the first state in India to appoint eleven Chairpersons and one Officer on Special Duty (OSD) from among the members of Self-Help Groups (SHGs). This unprecedented and historic initiative has been led by the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Sikkim, Shri Prem Singh Tamang Golay, whose visionary leadership continues to redefine the scope and structure of participatory governance. What makes this decision remarkable is not merely the appointments themselves, but the philosophy behind them rooted in the belief that those who have long served their communities at the grassroots deserve a seat at the decision-making table.
The newly appointed representatives include: Mrs. Ongkit Lepcha - Chairperson, Horticulture Department; Mrs. Chumila Bhutia - Chairperson, Public Health Engineering Department; Mrs. Lilly Rai - Chairperson, Agriculture Department; Ms. Nim Chiki Sherpa - Chairperson, Commerce and Industries Department; Mrs. Bidya Biswakarma - Chairperson, Cooperation Department; Mrs. Khus Maya Tamang - Chairperson, Water Resources Department; Mrs. Kala Pradhan- Chairperson, Food Processing Industries; Mrs. Doma Lepcha - Chairperson, Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Services; Ms. Shanti Limboo - Chairperson, Sikkim Consumer Cooperative Society; Mrs. Mingma Lhamu Sherpa- Chairperson, Capacity Building, Skill Development Training Placement, Youth Empowerment and Self-Reliant Board; Mrs. Anuradha Gurung - Chairperson, Fisheries Department; Ms. Indra Kala Chettri - Officer on Special Duty, Panchayati Raj Department
Sikkim is home to over 5,500 Self-Help Groups involving nearly 55,000 women, and this move marks the first time in India that representatives from these collectives have been formally inducted into government leadership roles across departments. It is more than symbolic; it is transformative. It brings community knowledge, local problem-solving experience, and women’s voices into the heart of governance. This marks a paradigm shift turning empowerment from a slogan into structured representation.
Hon’ble Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang Golay has long championed women’s leadership and inclusive development. His government has actively ensured women’s representation at every level from having three elected women MLAs (formerly four) to appointing Sikkim’s first woman Deputy Speaker and the woman Deputy Mayor of the Gangtok Municipal Corporation. The state also boasts the highest number of women representatives in Urban Local Bodies and Gram Panchayats, including three women Adhyakshas and four Upadhyakshas.
Additionally, more than 16 women have been nominated as Chairpersons, along with three Advisors and ten Officers on Special Duty (OSDs) across various state boards and departments. The decision to bring SHG members into formal governance is a natural extension of this commitment. It is a powerful message that inclusive politics must not only speak for the people, but be shaped by the people especially by women whose leadership often begins in the home and community. Since the formation of the SKM Government, the Hon’ble Chief Minister has entrusted nearly 23 women with the role of Secretaries across various departments out of a total of 42 under the Government of Sikkim. This remarkable step underscores the administration’s strong commitment to inclusive governance and reflects the increasing participation of women in key leadership and decision-making positions within the state machinery.
This policy direction had its roots in a promise made by the Chief Minister during the SHG Bharosa Sammelan held in Jorethang on March 3, 2024. There, he envisioned a future where SHGs are not merely beneficiaries of schemes but key participants in governance. That vision has now come to life. What’s equally notable is that these appointments were made through democratic selection by SHG members themselves, reinforcing the participatory ethos of the move.
Furthering his commitment to institutional empowerment, the Hon’ble Chief Minister has placed a strong emphasis on uplifting Self-Help Groups (SHGs) across the state through various provisions, schemes, and policies. This comprehensive support system reflects the government’s intent not merely to recognise SHGs symbolically, but to actively equip them with the infrastructure, resources, and opportunities necessary to grow and expand their impact.
The government’s pro-women orientation under CM Tamang is also evident in welfare schemes such as the Aama Yojana, Vatsalya Yojana, and Baini Yojana, which are designed to address the needs of women at every stage of life. These initiatives, together with structural representation in government, form a comprehensive model of empowerment that prioritizes dignity, agency, and opportunity for the women of Sikkim.
Time and again, Hon’ble Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang Golay has publicly appreciated the resilience and dedication of SHG women, recognising their vital role in Sikkim’s socio-economic development. By giving them not just recognition, but power formal roles, platforms, and institutional mandates, he has rewritten the narrative of women’s involvement in governance.
This historic development is not just a win for Sikkim; it is a beacon for the rest of the nation. It redefines what people’s governance can look like in the 21st century: rooted in community, led by those with lived experience, and driven by a leadership that believes true development can only be achieved when every voice, especially that of a woman, is empowered to lead.
Yougan Tamang
Press Secretary to Hon’ble Chief Minister of Sikkim
