Awards have been the norm of the day for the little Himalayan state of Sikkirn under the able guidance of its visionary chief minister, Pawan Chamling. The Nirmal Gram Purashkar 2009,4th JRD Tata Memorial Award for health achievement 2009, Emerging Tourism State 2008, Most Picturesque Destination 2007 are only a few feather's in the cap worn by the dynamic leader. The chief architect of Sikkim's emotional integration with the National mainstream, chief minister Chamling's extraordinary success story as a mass based politician is popularly credited to his humility to accept and respect the people as the fountainhead of all power. The dynamic leader feels economic, social and political equality of women, conservation of the environment, institutionalization of democracy and a trouble-free atmosphere are some of the major achievements of his government. We look at the multi-faceted leader's vision about the hill state of Sikkim. On Emotional Integration: Pawan Chamling is the first Chief Minister of the State to speak of "emotional integration" of Sikkim with the national mainstream. "Ours is a perfect example of national integration. Look how our people have become a part of the Indian Union within 33 years. Sikkim can be projected as a role model of national integration." Emotional integration is a phrase coined by Mr Chamling to describe a bonding a state should have with the rest of the country. He believes people should be allowed to live fearlessly, only then they would be able to come out in their best abilities. He has always maintained, "Desh hamro Hindustan, Sikkim hamro sukhistan." (Our country is India, our happy land is Sikkim). Over the years, feels the chief minister, Sikkim has 'experienced the process of reverse integration. People from all parts of the country have been looking at Sikkim as a model of mutual co-existence, peace and prosperity. He has said, "Integration can only come when it is reciprocated by both parties. The rest of the Indian States can learn a lot from Sikkim. We are a leading State in the areas of women's reservation in panchayats and in employment and in conservation of the environment and we have a high rate of growth of gross domestic product (GDP). In this way integration will have to come from them, as Sikkim is willing to show the way by becoming a model State. The whole process will be reciprocated by us." On being named the greenest Chief Minister: Under Chamling, Sikkim has initiated a series of developmental projects, including massive plantation and regeneration of forests for which the chief minister was voted and named as the "Greenest Chief Minister of India" on the basis of rigorous survey across the Country conducted by Down To Earth magazine in 1999. Under Chamling, Sikkim became the first state to ban plastic. "We were one of the first State governments to ban the use of polythene bags. We have also banned the cutting of healthy trees. Grazing is not allowed in forest areas. Endangered species are being looked after. We are also moving towards eco-tourism. These initiatives ensure that the environment remains a top priority of the State government." Sikkim has also introduced the joint forest management-cum-integrated watershed management programme, with the government involving the common people in a big way. The common people are thus made part of the planning process, which helps greatly in successful implementation of the schemes. A number of new forests -- Smriti Vans -- are being raised all over the state with the active participation of the people. Mr Chamling said, ' Every gram panchayat has already created a Smriti Van and such forests have already come up in four district headquarters." "We are following a green development agenda. All the development work being carried on in the State is done with an eye on the environment. We take up only projects that are environment-friendly. A large percentage of the forest area of India lies in Sikkim. We want to protect this area. To do this, I have to take some difficult decisions." On Sikkim's remarkable performance in the health sector: Mr Chamling received the 4th JRD Tata Memorial award for Sikkim for its remarkable performance in the health sector. The state bagged this award for its achievements on such key indicators as literacy rate, child-sex ratio, full immunisation, safe delivery, Plan expenditure on social sector, percentage of women married below the age of 18, total fertility rate, infant mortality rate, female youth literacy rate, school attendance rate for girls and safe child delivery. A jubilant Chamling, while hailing his state's achievement, said at a press conference in the capital later in the day that the award was given based on Sikkim's performance in 14 key sectors. "The state has achieved full immunization, an indication that health sector and the issue of providing quality health care to people occupies the central theme in all discussions of the state government," Chamling said. He further added that besides providing good health care infrastructure, the state government has also been striving to increase awareness amongst the common man on issues like harmful effects of tobacco (the state has banned the sale of gutka [chewing tobacco] and other tobacco products), cleanliness and hygiene and the government has already banned smoking in public places. The three time chief minister added that other states have a lot to learn from Sikkim. "For instance, despite being a border state - Sikkim shares its borders with China, Nepal and Bhutan, it is very peaceful. It simply defies the mind set that all border or north eastern states are victims of insurgency. Other states have a lot to learn from Sikkim," Chamling said. On Sikkim being declared the Emerging Tourism State: "Sikkim is one of the most fascinating eco-tourism destinations in the world. We depict the real story of continuity amidst change. We take pride in being the living example of unparalleled and the most successful sustainable practices. Our development foundation is mainly based on eco-tourism characterized by amazingly fabulous and charming natural resources. Our growth is triggered by traditional farming practices that produce a magnificent variety of horticultural, floricultural and ethno-medicinal items. With a negligible use of chemical fertilizer, we have been the harbinger of organic farming in the country." Chief Minister Chamling said, "Eco tourism means encouraging tourism and yet keeping nature not tampered with, I also mean the people of Sikkim." "Look at our natural heritage. With over 4000 species of striking varieties of plants and shrubs and around 700 species of rare orchids and rhododendrons, we are one of the top biodiversity hotspots in the world. We are storehouse of very rare medicinal and aromatic plants. I am told that the American people pretty much like Ringad (wild fern and what we locally call Nigra) and water crest (what we locally call Simrayo). We traditionally grow both of these in highly organic condition. Our passion fruits, ginger and cardamom are of unparalleled quality and flavour." "Tourists will find peace and tranquility in Sikkim. I want to continue working towards this. I am also doing a lot of construction work. We are constructing an airport, which will make Sikkim more accessible. We are lucky to be one of the most beautiful parts of India. We have the Kanchenjunga, the world's third highest peak, which is a delight for tourists. Add to this the beautiful mountains, glaciers, rich wildlife, all of which are a source of attraction for tourists." On Capacity Building in Sikkim: Looking ahead, Mr Chamling said that the capacity-building and empowerment of the Sikkimese people is a big priority. Since 2003, Government has created Skill Development Fund and later Directorate of Capacity Building for the first time in Sikkim to undertake training for youths in various disciplines to make them self-employed or make them capable of harnessing opportunities arising outside government establishment. Besides sponsoring and coordinating hosts of training programs for our young Sikkimese within and outside India, the Directorate also provides educational loan of upto Rs. 30 lakhs for overseas courses and Rs. 10 lakhs for educational program within India to poor students whose parents can not afford the cost of education on their own. Apart from establishing a Directorate of Capacity Building, various state government departments allocate and keep aside 2 percent of their annual outlay for capacity building programmes. The Chief Minister requested the government departments to embark on the capacity building mission immediately and stressed that the programmes must be result-oriented. "I initiated the Capacity Building Directorate to ensure skill learning and professional training for its youth. We are further planning to have a full-fledged Institute of Capacity Building during the next financial year." "This capacity building also has training in all professional skills. It is the responsibility of the directorate to focus on the youth while they are still undergraduates. At this stage, trained counselors decipher each student's skills and are put on to career counselors thereafter. In other words, the youth get to know about their own capacity through the directorate" On the Trade route through Nathula: Mr Chamling believes the trade route through the Nathula Pass which reopened on July 6, 2006 after 44 years of gap should be developed into a full-fledged one. He feels, "Though the volume of trade through the Nathula pass has been low and has not met expectations, it has the potential to become a profitable route." "Resumption of the historic trade route through Nathu La is going to help business in Sikkim in no small measure. As you are aware, the trade route through Nathu La is the shortest route between India and China and Sikkim, through which this trade route passes, will derive multiple benefits as it will give a huge boost to the tourism industry and become a hub of commercial activities and the focal point of business transactions. Infrastructure will be created in Sikkim to facilitate trade activities, which in turn will generate more employment and economic prosperity for the people of Sikkim." On the issues of Rural Development: Speaking about his state's performance, Mr Chamling said Sikkim was the only state that has allocated 70 percent of its budget for rural development. This has greatly improved rural habitation both in terms of rural connectivity, increased awareness on education and health, poverty alleviation and overall progress in the social sector well-being. On Empowerment of people in the Model State: Mr Chamling has said, "Empowerment of people is the core content of our political philosophy. If individuals are happy, communities are contented and institutions are sound, we believe that the country will be in a fast forward progress mode. Social mobilization in the nation building process then will be easier and smoother. We are doing exactly this in Sikkim." On issues of women empowerment: The government of Sikkim to ensure the girl child's financial security and empowerment. To ensure the girl child's financial security, the government deposits Rs 5000 per annum for as soon as she turns 13. When she reaches college, the girl gets the interest the money has earned so far. Then at 23, when she enters the marriageable age, she gets an installment from the same investment. Finally, at 50, she gets the full and final amount. But there is a clause here