Rewaj Chettri

Background

About Rewaj Chettri

I was born into politics, but I grew up in entrepreneurship. My father was a grassroots leader in Sikkim, a man who stood up against the system when it was not easy to do so. He fought and won a court case against the sitting Chief Secretary in the 1990s. He was disqualified from elections in 2004 and later lost his life to political violence. Yet people remember him not only as a bold opposition voice but as the man who pioneered poultry farming in Sikkim and gave ordinary people dignity through livelihood. His life shaped me. In 2013, while still a student, I started NE Taxi to solve a small problem in tourism. That small idea grew into a platform connecting people and creating jobs. Later, I founded NE Origins to take the indigenous food of the Northeast to the world. Along the way, I started and nurtured more than 35 ventures, and in 2018 I was humbled to be named to Forbes Asia 30 under 30. Entrepreneurship taught me resilience, creativity, and above all, service. It was never just about profit. It was about people. That is why in 2023, I stepped fully into politics, following the path my father had begun. I wanted to be the voice of self-help groups, of entrepreneurs, and of young people who are too often left out of decisions that shape their lives. Today, I serve as Officer on Special Duty to the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Sikkim for Entrepreneurship and Skill Development. I also work with the student wing of Sikkim Krantikari Morcha as General Secretary. My focus is simple: to strengthen SHGs, empower entrepreneurs, and give students the skills and platforms to dream bigger. I believe Sikkim’s growth engine lies not in shortcuts but in the collective energy of its people. SHGs, entrepreneurs, and students are not beneficiaries. They are builders. And my role is to help create the space and support where their ideas can thrive.