No Sikkimese should be homeless, says Minister Arun Upreti on SGAY progress

Minister of Rural Development of Sikkim, Arun Kumar Upreti, in an exclusive conversation with Sikkim Review, shared detailed updates on the progress and vision of the Sikkim Garib Awas Yojana (SGAY), one of the state’s flagship housing schemes for the underprivileged. He said the government is strongly committed to ensuring that no person in Sikkim remains without a proper roof over their head.

Speaking on the scheme’s status, the Minister said, “Earlier, we had distributed around 3,000 houses under SGAY. Most of these houses are now complete. Yes, a few delays did happen, but those were due to technical issues, not intentional neglect.”

Following the recent elections, the government has begun work on a much larger scale. “We have now started construction of 6,400 new houses across the state. In many places, construction has already started. In others, it will begin very soon,” said Upreti. He stressed that the government's primary aim is the welfare of the people, not political gain. “This is the vision of our party and our Chief Minister — that no Sikkimese should remain homeless,” he added.

Addressing claims made by some individuals that houses are being given unfairly or based on political connections, the Minister said the accusations were baseless. “Some people say houses are only given to supporters or workers of our party. That is not true. Once elected, we serve everyone equally — not just our supporters.”

He further said that certain voices in the market have been spreading false information. “Two people are misleading the public. I don’t wish to respond to their personal comments. But I want to say clearly — we are a government that believes in work, not words. All the listed beneficiaries will get their houses.”

Minister Upreti also said how the government ensured fair and visible distribution of housing materials and documents. “In all 32 constituencies of Sikkim, houses are being distributed. Every distribution is being documented through video recordings so that the public can see everything is done transparently.”

In Gangtok and surrounding areas, the distribution events faced logistical challenges due to crowding in government offices. “We shifted to the Mela Ground area to manage it better. In Gangtok, local leaders like Arpan Mingeopretty and others helped actively with distributing materials to beneficiaries.”

He added that the government is not only constructing new houses but also paying attention to maintenance. “During the rainy season, we are repairing old buildings, fixing sewage systems, and improving trust-building infrastructure for people’s convenience.”

Regarding the criticism from the opposition, Upreti stated, “They say we are wasting money for self-glorification. But I want to remind them — this is our party’s initiative, and it is meant for the poor. They are free to have their opinion, but we know our focus is clear — to help people.”

He explained that as a Minister, he often travels to different parts of the state and listens to people’s problems directly. “Only by meeting people can we understand what they truly need,” he said.

Apart from the housing scheme, the Minister said that the government is also supporting artists and youth by organizing events and creating platforms for them. “We want to uplift young talent and provide them space to grow.”

Touching on the recent political developments in the state, Upreti expressed confidence in the government’s popularity. “In 2019, people gave us 17 seats. Now, in 2024, they gave us all 32 seats. That shows their faith in SKM and in the leadership of Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang.”

He said that while the opposition may try to regroup or form new parties, the ruling party is open and inclusive. “Some leaders are resigning or planning new parties. That’s their decision. But SKM welcomes everyone who wants to work for the people. We never force anyone — those who want to join, can do so freely.”

As the state prepares to observe Jan Unmukti Diwas on August 10, Minister Upreti appealed to all citizens to join the celebrations. “To all the mothers, fathers, brothers, and sisters of Sikkim — let us come together to celebrate what we have achieved and what we are working toward.”

He said this day is a reminder of unity, development, and the progress made in recent years. “We will continue working hard for the people. The final judge of our work will be the public, once again, in the 2029 elections.”