The Sikkim government has signed an MoU with the Digital India BHASHINI Division under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) to make government services and official communication more accessible through local languages. The agreement was signed during a BHASHINI Rajyam State Engagement Workshop organised by the state’s Department of Information Technology and the BHASHINI Division. The partnership will initially explore integrating Nepali, Bhutia and Lepcha into digital government services, including official communications and forms, with public services to follow. IT Department chairman Navraj Gurung said technology should communicate with citizens in their own languages rather than requiring people to adapt to technological systems. IT secretary Bimal Rai highlighted language as a major barrier to accessible digital governance and urged departments including Health, Education, Agriculture and Rural Development to participate. BHASHINI Division CEO Amitabh Nag demonstrated the platform’s live translation capabilities and highlighted the role of artificial intelligence in removing language barriers. The initiative is expected to particularly benefit people in rural and remote areas, while also supporting farmers, tourists and citizens in accessing information and government services in languages they understand.
Nepali, Bhutia and Lepcha to Be Integrated into Sikkim’s Digital Services
