Gangtok, Jun 26: As part of the 50th Anniversary celebrations of Sikkim’s Statehood, Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang flagged off 13 Mini Dumper Resource Recovery Vehicles at a ceremony held at Manan Kendra on Thursday.

The vehicles, procured under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakram (PMJVK), were handed over by the Social Welfare Department to the Rural Development Department to enhance rural sanitation and solid waste management efforts under the Swachh Bharat Mission.

The vehicles will be deployed across 13 Gram Panchayat Units (GPUs) and development societies in various blocks of the state, including Omchung, Ranka, Rongay Tathangchen, Maneybung Dentam, Phensong, Passingdong, Damthang, Sangmu, Namphing, Namcheybung, Samsing, Turung Mamring, and Naku Chumpong in Gyalshing District.

The flag-off event was attended by Speaker of the Sikkim Legislative Assembly MN Sherpa, Social Welfare Minister Samdup Lepcha, Rural Development Minister Arun Kumar Upreti, Health Minister GT Dhungel, MLAs and advisors Pamin Lepcha and Tenzing Norbu Lamtha, Secretary of the Social Welfare Department Sarika Pradhan, along with senior officials and departmental representatives.

The initiative underscores the state government’s commitment to sustainable development and inclusive growth.