Sikkim Decentralisation and LED 2016

Located in the Himalayan mountains and bordered by Nepal, Tibet and Bhutan, the Indian state of Sikkim is a special region. A state government delegation from Sikkim travelled all the way to The Hague in June 2016 for a three-day study visit to learn about decentralisation, local finances and financial management. The 21-member delegation was made up of government representatives from the Rural Management and Development Department, Sikkim’s four districts (North, East, South and West), the State Institute of Rural Development Karfectar and the Panchayati Raj. The programme featured a brief introduction to fiscal decentralisation that emphasised that the benefits of (fiscal) decentralisation will only materialise if local finances are managed efficiently. The programme also examined practical tools and methods for local financial management. Using interactive training methods, the participants were challenged to analyse the processes used within their organisations in order to learn how to improve them. In addition, the delegation visited the Ministry of Interior and Kingdom Relation and the Municipality of The Hague.

Objectives

• Explain the concepts of fiscal decentralisation, local financial management and local economic development.

Partners