While strolling through a small town in Sikkim, I noticed a young boy in a school uniform at a roadside shop. He wasn’t tall enough to see over the counter, so he tiptoed to peek inside. After paying for the candy with a few coins, his face lit up with excitement. What caught my attention, though, wasn’t the candy, it was what he did next. Without a second thought, he tucked the wrapper into his side pocket before skipping away. That small, effortless act left a big smile on my face.
Coming from a city where even adults litter without any hesitation, Sikkim felt like a breath of fresh air, quite literally! Not only is Sikkim a beautiful destination, it is India’s Greenest State. From plastic-free streets to thriving organic farms, Sikkim has achieved something remarkable in a densely populated country: progress without pollution.
Let us dive deeper into what makes Sikkim India’s Greenest state.
Sikkim’s Green Commitment
- In the year 1988, Sikkim became the first Indian state to ban plastic. This was long before any national policies came into picture.
- The then CM Pawan K. Chamling launched several green reforms and made efforts to integrate sustainability into education and administration.
- The Sikkim Organic Mission led all farming methods to be fully organic. By 2016, Sikkim was the first 100% organic state in the world.
- From schools to government, villages to towns, a sustainable way of life was actively encouraged.
Read: The Better India – Sikkim’s early bans
Sikkim’s Organic Revolution
- In 2016, Sikkim became the world’s first fully organic state- this means that the state only follows organic farming practices where no synthetic fertilizers and pesticides are used.
- This was done for several reasons like: Health, soil preservation in a mountainous region and long-term sustainability.
- This shift to Organic farming in turn led to improved soil health, increased biodiversity, better produce and a boom in organic exports.
- In 2018, Sikkim’s organic policy won the UN Future Policy Gold Award.
Read: Future Policy Award – Sikkim Organic Farming
Sikkim’s Plastic ban
- Sikkim was among the first states in India to ban plastic carry bags. This was around the year 1988, long before the national ban was introduced.
- The ban later would also apply to styrofoam plates and cups and plastic water bottles in protected places.
- In many tourist areas like Yumthang, Tsomgo Lake, tourists are advised to carry their own water and avoid plastic completely.
- Today you won’t see locals littering in Sikkim, even most children are mindful of this.
Read: Sikkim a state of India that is Plastic free
Sikkim’s Green Tourism
- Sikkim actively promotes eco-friendly tourism that is better for the environment and support local economy. In my experience, this is the best way to experience what Sikkim has to offer.
- Today there are several eco-stays in Sikkim that are sustainable and have low-impact on the the environment.
- Sikkim issues permits for travelling to environmentally sensitive places like North Sikkim. This keeps over-tourism in check and also helps preserve biodiversity.
- Tourists are always encouraged by the people of Sikkim to not litter and limit the usage of plastics during their trip.
Read: Sikkim eco-tourism policy
Sikkim has shown us that sustainability is achievable even in a fast-paced ever growing country like ours. Sikkim is living proof that sustainability can be practical, community-driven, and deeply cultural and it can all work in a harmonious manner to bring about a great change.
We definitely have a lot to learn from Sikkim. But change always comes from the littlest of things. Like that little boy with the candy wrapper, we should start with simple habits. Small choices, when made by many, can lead to a truly greener world.
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