Singer is Sikkim mascot

RAJEEV RAVIDAS, May 11, 2018 Gangtok: The Sikkim government on Thursday appointed singer-composer Mohit Chauhan as the Green Ambassador to promote the Himalayan state as the environment-friendly destination.

Chauhan is the second musician to be appointed an ambassador of the state after the legendary A. R. Rahman, who earlier this year was named the Brand Ambassador of Sikkim. The frontman of the now dormant Indie-pop band, Silk Route, and an award-winning Bollywood singer, Chauhan is a native of Himachal Pradesh.

A notification signed by Thomas Chandy, the principal secretary-cum-principal chief conservator of forest, said Chauhan was being nominated the Green Ambassador with the approval of the state government "for promoting Sikkim as a green destination, internationally and nationally, on voluntary basis".

He performed at the closing ceremony of the Red Panda Festival organised by the state tourism department. The "Dooba-dooba" man had said he was absolutely amazed by the beauty of the state, and the place reminded him of his home Himachal."Sikkim has huge potential, and being a musician, I would like to shoot the videos of my songs here...I would love to come back here and this is just the beginning," he had said. "Stay clean and green," had been his signing off message.

Sikkim is well-known for its rich biodiversity and abundant natural resources, and is the first and only fully organic state of the country. Apart from producing only organic produce, the state recently imposed a ban on the import of non-organic vegetables, barring a few items, from outside.