<span style="color: #222222;">Sikkim celebrates its statehood day today. It marks the day in 1975 when Sikkim transitioned to become the 22nd state of India from being a monarchy earlier.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Greeting people on the occasion, Sikkim governor Ganga Prasad has said that the state has always worked for the country's development, be it through its organic mission and as a tourist hotspot.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Mr Prasad said that with the central government's support, Sikkim is committed to building a self-reliant society, women empowerment and public welfare.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">He expressed gratitude to frontline workers fighting the pandemic and appealed to citizens to follow Prime Minister Narendra Modi's message of Dawai Bhi, Kadai Bhi.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">AIR correspondent reports, wishing people on the statehood day, Sikkim chief minister PS Tamang said that the state has earned global recognition as a model of development and progress.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Remembering former chief ministers, Mr Tamang said that they contributed to making Sikkim a state defined by peace, unity in diversity and growth.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">He stressed on the state government's commitment to development and highlighted initiatives in areas of health, agriculture, education, tourism, animal husbandry, social security, infrastructure development and e-governance, among other sectors.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">He sought everyone's participation and collective responsibility in these initiatives for holistic development.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Mr Tamang expressed gratitude to frontline warriors for their tireless fight and urged citizens to follow COVID-19 guidelines.</span><br />''  <br />