Pakyong (Rangpo Goli Ground), Aug 10: Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang-Golay on Monday announced that the state government will enlarge the Aama Sashaktikaran Yojana to cover 50,000 beneficiaries from 2027, signalling a stepped-up focus on women-centred welfare across Sikkim.
Expansion aims and rollout
Speaking at the second Aama Samman Diwas, held at Rangpo Goli Ground and organised by the Women, Child, Senior Citizen and Divyangjan Welfare Department, the Chief Minister said the enlarged scheme will ensure representation of more than 1,500 mothers from each Assembly constituency. He said initial disbursements have already reached a portion of beneficiaries, with cheques issued to 10 mothers per constituency and the remaining payments to be routed through MLAs by the end of the month, according to an Information and Public Relations Department release.
Package of women-focused measures highlighted
Alongside the Aama Sashaktikaran expansion, Mr Tamang-Golay outlined a suite of policies and programmes aimed at economic and health empowerment of women. Officials and dignitaries at the function included the Speaker of the Sikkim Legislative Assembly, Cabinet Ministers, MLAs-cum-Advisors, members of local bodies, the Chief Secretary, the DGP and heads of various departments.
- Aama Sahayog Yojana: Over 4,200 rural mothers currently receive an annual grant of ₹4,500 intended to fund four LPG refills.
- IVF assistance: Financial aid of up to ₹3 lakh for couples seeking in-vitro fertilisation has been announced for those unable to conceive naturally.
- Frontline worker reforms: Regularisation and measures to improve remuneration for Anganwadi workers and ASHAs were reaffirmed.
- Employment and contractual benefits: Women in government service receive one year of maternity leave; women are exempted from Tender Document Requirements (TDR) for government contracts.
- Mobility and support services: The Aama Didi Bahini Pink Bus Service, operated by women drivers and conductors and offering concessional fares to women, has been emphasised as part of mobility support.
Health initiatives and budgetary measures
The Chief Minister referred to public-health measures targeted at women and adolescent girls. An HPV vaccination drive for adolescent girls is underway, and the 2026-27 state Budget allocates for a statewide HPV screening programme for women aged 30–65 years. He also mentioned the establishment of breastfeeding pods across all six districts as part of maternal and infant-care improvements.
| Scheme / Initiative | Key detail |
|---|---|
| Aama Sashaktikaran Yojana | Expand to 50,000 beneficiaries from 2027; >1,500 per Assembly constituency |
| Aama Sahayog Yojana | 4,200 rural mothers receive ₹4,500 annually for LPG refills |
| IVF assistance | Up to ₹3 lakh for eligible couples |
Other programmes and budget highlights
Mr Tamang-Golay also drew attention to several newer and continuing measures included in the state’s recent policy agenda and budgetary proposals: support for 200 Self-Help Groups, a scheme titled Mero Rukh Mero Santati, an Aama Poetry Competition, and the establishment of an Aama Ko Goad facility in Siliguri for patients. These were described as complementary initiatives to bolster social, cultural and economic support for women and mothers.
The Chief Minister framed the set of interventions as driven by the needs of beneficiaries rather than electoral considerations, saying government programmes are being designed with emphasis on long-term social and economic empowerment.
Administrative and implementation notes
Officials present at the Rangpo event indicated the government will coordinate disbursal through Block Administrative Centres and elected representatives to ensure timely delivery. The information release stated that under the existing scheme cycle, 32,000 mothers have been felicitated and will receive assistance through designated channels.
As these measures move toward implementation, the state administration will need to finalise beneficiary lists, ensure coordination between departments and local bodies, and monitor timely financial transfers. The expansion to 50,000 beneficiaries next year will require logistical scaling at the constituency and block levels to reach the targeted number of mothers per constituency.
Officials at the event reiterated that further operational details, including timelines for disbursement and enrolment criteria where applicable, will be issued by the Women, Child, Senior Citizen and Divyangjan Welfare Department.
