Flying Festival and Paragliding Championship Showcase Sikkim’s Tourism and Youth Vision

Chief Minister highlights sports, entrepreneurship and community-led tourism at Rhenock event

KalimNews with inputs from IPR Gangtok, January 19, 2026, Gangtok: Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang (Golay) on Sunday attended the Flying Festival and the Paragliding Accuracy Championship 2026 at Rorathang, Titribotey Taza, Rhenock, marking a significant step in promoting adventure tourism and youth-oriented development in Sikkim. The events followed the inauguration of the first Rhenock Sikkim Paragliding Accuracy Championship 2026 and were organised by the Rhenock Tourism Development Society (RTDS) in collaboration with the Tourism and Civil Aviation Department.

The programme witnessed the presence of Minister for Education, Sports and Youth Affairs, Law and Parliamentary Affairs, Raju Basnet; Minister for Agriculture, Horticulture, Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services and Fisheries, Puran Gurung; MLA-cum-Advisor for Women, Child, Senior Citizen and Divyangjan Welfare, Pamin Lepcha; MLA-cum-Advisor for Information Technology and Land Revenue and Disaster Management, L.B. Das; and Advisor to the Chief Minister, Bishnu Kumar Khatiwada. Zilla Upadhakshya Pakyong, chairpersons and chairmen from various departments, heads of departments, the Chief Minister’s confidential assistants, officers on special duty, officials from line departments and members of the public were also present.

Addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister described the occasion as a historic milestone for the region and underlined the vast potential of paragliding as a tourism activity in Sikkim. He commended the efforts of the Rhenock Tourism Development Society, stating that the organisation was formed with a clear vision of fostering local development through tourism, and extended his best wishes for the successful achievement of its objectives.

Emphasising the broader role of sports, the Chief Minister said that sports was not merely a form of recreation but a powerful means of building discipline, leadership qualities, physical fitness and national pride. He noted that the Government of Sikkim has been consistently working to strengthen sports infrastructure, identify young talent, support sportspersons and prepare them for higher levels of competition. He added that the development of playgrounds, multipurpose stadiums and training centres, from rural to urban areas, continues to be a key priority of the government.

Encouraging the youth, the Chief Minister urged them to embrace entrepreneurship not just as an alternative but as a meaningful pathway towards self-reliance and economic growth. He said that while the government creates opportunities, it is the responsibility of young people to utilise them through dedication, hard work and commitment, which would ultimately contribute to making Sikkim self-reliant.

He also highlighted the Sabbatical Leave Scheme for state government employees, which allows individuals to take leave for personal growth, education or entrepreneurial pursuits with 50 per cent of basic pay for a period of up to three years. According to him, the initiative enables young minds to explore new ideas and opportunities beyond conventional career paths.

Speaking on employment generation, the Chief Minister referred to flagship initiatives such as the “One Family, One Entrepreneur” (OFOE) programme and the Chief Minister’s Self Employment Scheme (CMSES), which provide financial assistance and institutional support to unemployed youth, including educated individuals and trained beneficiaries from livelihood schools. These schemes, he said, have enabled many to establish enterprises across various sectors, and he expressed satisfaction over the success stories emerging from government-supported entrepreneurship, while stressing the need to further strengthen work culture.

On tourism development, the Chief Minister encouraged local communities to come forward with innovative ideas such as homestays and eco-based tourism. He stressed that preserving the natural authenticity, culture and environment of the region would play a crucial role in attracting tourists and ensuring sustainable growth.

Earlier, RTDS President Binod Subba addressed the gathering and outlined the vision of the Rhenock Tourism Development Society, which aims to promote tourism-led development in the area. He said the initiative was conceptualised after detailed surveys, through which paragliding was identified as a key tourism activity, and he placed several demands before the government related to infrastructure and overall regional development.

Paragliding Technical Head Arjun Rai briefed the audience on the technical and developmental aspects of paragliding, presenting reports on its history and progress in Sikkim, including the success of several paragliding operations across the state.

During the programme, allotments under the Sikkim Garib Awas Yojana were distributed to 21 beneficiaries. A camera was formally handed over to Milan Rai in accordance with his application submitted during the Janta Bhet Ghat programme, and cheques under the Chief Minister’s Discretionary Grant were also distributed. Land donors were felicitated in recognition of their valuable contributions.

The event concluded with the distribution of trophies and certificates to the winners of the Paragliding Accuracy Championship 2026. In the Solo Championship category, Sonam Ladakhe of Ladakh secured first position, followed by Yuvraj Sunar of Nepal in second place and Roshan Basnet of Nepal in third. In the Team Championship category, Team Nepal emerged winners, with Barkala Team securing second position and Team Lachung finishing third.

Report from DIO Pakyong