Socio economic and environmental implications of pharmaceutical companies in sikkim

Sikkim is a small landlocked state located in the heart of the Eastern Himalayan and categorized under Zone IV of seismically active region. Around 74.85 per cent of total population of Sikkim resides in rural and 25.15 per cent in the urban areas. Agriculture is the primary activity of Sikkim. However, in recent times, the total land under agricultural is declining at a faster rate due to massive infrastructural build-ups. Mushrooming Pharmaceutical companies concentrated along the shore lines of Teesta, Rangpo and Ranikhola is one of the factors. Despite its late entry their sheer number is astounding. Scrutinizing the empirical evidences, pharmaceutical companies have numerous socioeconomic and environmental implications. The paper mainly tries to analyze the relationship between developmental model undertaken and how it has reshaped the natural landscape, and socio-cultural-economic space in Sikkim.