Agartala: The fifth consecutive government by Manik Sarkar-led Left Front and several ups and down in social sphere made 2013 eventful for Tripura.
Though Tripura has been recognised for successfully managing insurgency over the years, increasing incidences of general crime, especially crime against women and suicide in 2013, gave the state, the top position at national level.
With the support of UPA II, Tripura was able to establish a separate High Court and national standard library and museum in the year.
Besides, the government constructed about 2000 km of new roads, 1300 school buildings and 4500 hospital buildings over the year, but could appoint required number of teachers and doctors for running the institutions.
The state was still running short of about 60 qualified and trained teachers for schools and colleges and 30 specialist doctors and paramedical staff, despite having fiscal support from the Centre.
The state retained the status of peace, curbing militancy by political will. Total extremist related incidents were reduced to seven in 2013, which were 184 in 2004.
Similarly, there was no incident of killing of security personal or civilian by the insurgents in 2013 but 10 cases of kidnapping were reported in the year and seven of them were still untraced.
However, crime under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) increased over the past decade across the state.
In 2013, total number of Indian Penal Code cases increased to 5800, which were mere 3500 in 2003. This is a significant increase in the crime rate.
The conviction rate was still in deplorable condition at only 15 per cent against the national average of 41.5 per cent.
Crime against women including dowry death, molestation and rape, also increased in the year corresponding to the last year.
Police report said as many as 552 odd cases related to crime against women were reported in 2013 against 400 in 2012.
The average 70 monthly cases of suicide were recorded in this year, which was almost similar to last year.
The official record, however, blamed the state for deteriorating scene of agriculture, health care, infrastructure development, development of human resources, development of basic amenities and services for the people in 2013.
In the current fiscal, Tripura registered an annual growth at 14.18 per cent against the national growth of 14.33 per cent.
In last financial year, the state had achieved a fiscal surplus of Rs 258.62 crore by increasing own tax revenue to about 38 per cent.
The non-tax revenue earnings also showed an impressive figure at 62.55 per cent.
In terms of expansion of governance and administrative facilities for people of the state, the Left front government set up 13 more revenue blocks and elevated Agartala Municipal Council to Municipal Corporation.
For the first time, after attaining statehood, Tripura government in last September elevated 10 major towns of the state to city and established 10 new municipal councils.
Tripura is blessed with 726 MW Northeast’s biggest gas-based thermal project at Palatana in South Tripura, which was dedicated to the nation by President Pranab Mukherjee in June 21, though the commercial production has yet to start.
Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Snide inaugurated the second multi-model Check Post on November 17 at Indo-Bangla international border at Akhaura of Agartala.
The year witnessed a considerable progress in Indo-Bangladesh surface communication link by Agartala-Akhaura railway track and construction of bridge on Feni River of South Tripura with Indian fund.
Considering the demand of Tripura, the Ministry of Civil Aviation announced in November to upgrade Agartala airport into an international air-hub with all modern facilities at the cost of Rs 300 crore by next three years besides, making abandoned Kailashahar airport operational. (UNI)
