CM announces National Engineers Day as restricted holiday, one-time relaxation for induction of JEs into State cadre

ISABELLA GURUNG

GANGTOK, : At the ‘National Engineers’ Day- 2025’ celebration held at Manan Kendra here on Monday, Chief Minister PS Golay declared September 15 as a restricted holiday (only for engineers) in Sikkim to mark National Engineers Day.

He also announced one-time relaxation for induction of junior engineers into the State cadre, at the State-level celebration organized by Retired State Engineers Association (Civil) in collaboration with in-service State Engineers (Civil) at Manan Kendra.

The celebration was attended by State cabinet ministers, retired & in-service engineers, architects and contractors, invited guests and dignitaries. Health Minister GT Dhungel is the chief patron.

“One problem arising now is that junior engineers are still not inducted into the cadre. There is no clarity on how their seniority should be determined, where to place them, or what process to follow. The association has raised this issue and recently the State government has taken it up. Junior engineers, especially those who have completed six or more years, should be inducted into the cadre with a one-time relaxation. This will not be a permanent measure but a one-time step to settle the matter. Otherwise, there will be confusion as to who is senior or junior, and where they stand is not known. For example, even if a vacancy exists for assistant engineer, a junior engineer who is not inducted into the cadre cannot get the opportunity, and their growth stops there. To resolve this issue, we have taken this step,” expressed Chief Minister PS Golay.

The Chief Minister highlighted that engineers play a pivotal role in the development of the State and nation.

“On this special occasion of National Engineers’ Day celebration, I express gratitude to the entire engineering community of Sikkim. We celebrate this special day in remembrance of Bharat Ratna M. Visvesvaraya on his birth anniversary. For the first time, Sikkim is observing ‘National Engineers’ Day- 2025’ on September 15, which is indeed a historic event.”

“Engineers are the key architects of development, playing the most crucial role in turning government policies and visions into reality. While civil servants and policymakers draft and shape policies, it is the engineers who design, plan, and ensure proper execution of developmental projects. Their involvement brings confidence in quality and safety, whether in infrastructure or other works. However, successful implementation also requires the combined efforts of government, contractors, and laborers, with engineers providing the final finishing touch,” he added.

Golay expressed that engineers in Sikkim are not just trusted for infrastructure but also in governance, administration, and even politics. The State government has expanded opportunities for engineers in every State department…though engineers were harassed through false Vigilance cases during the former SDF government, today engineers hold high positions as secretaries, ministers, heads of different departments etc., he added.

On the occasion, 13 retired individuals, including 5 civil engineers, 1 electrical engineer, 1 mechanical engineer, 1 architect and 5 contactors, were felicitated by the organizing team.

The Chief Minister expressed that the State’s infrastructure (roads, bridges and buildings) owes to the contribution of senior and retired engineers, who were today honored for the first time at the State level. He recalled working with senior and retired engineers during the past.

“Earlier engineers worked under tough conditions with limited resources, often walking for days to build roads through jungles without modern facilities. Today, with advanced tools and even AI support, young engineers have greater opportunities and must use them to shape the state’s future responsibly. Their dedication should be followed by today’s generation. While young engineers possess ability, I urge them to step up with confidence and take responsibility as their predecessors once did, carry forward a legacy and make a name for themselves,” he said.

Describing retired engineers as ‘living libraries’, the Chief Minister encouraged the young engineers to learn from the dedication of their predecessors, whose contributions are great, and to seek guidance from senior engineers.

The Chief Minister suggested the association give opportunity to retired engineers, those willing to contribute, particularly in land or project related matters, to support the State’s development. He suggested creating something like a manpower bank, so that retired engineers can, from time to time, be involved in specific projects.

The association proposed increasing the retirement age of engineers from 58 to 60, in line with IAS and IPS officers, to retain experienced manpower and reduce the need for constant retraining.

“While this could delay promotions for juniors, the government plans to consult public opinion and adopt a fair policy to balance experience with opportunities for young engineers,” said Golay.

The Chief Minister also applauded the cultural event organized by the engineers, stating that engineers of Sikkim are capable of anything, especially to build the State and nation.

Secretary, Public Health Engineering department, Shailendra Sharma, presented the role of engineers in nation-building, covering the history of engineering, developments in IT, Mechanical Engineering, Telecommunications, and Civil Engineering, and how engineering meets basic needs.

The prize distribution of the recently held inter-department futsal tournament and Engineers’ Day run was also held.