Agartala: Along with Meghalaya and Manipur, Tripura celebrated 44th statehood day on Thursday with colourful programmes in different parts of the state.
Besides Agartala, a series of programmes had been organised at different sub-divisional and block headquarters as part of the celebration. Various organizations and institutions also celebrated the day in a befitting manner.
The Tripura government has organised three-day cultural festival at Agartala depicting the state’s rich heritage and culture of different communities.
Governor Tathagata Roy is scheduled to address the central programme at Rabindra Bhavan this evening along with Tribal Welfare Minister Aghore Debbarma, Health and PWD Minister Badal Chowdhury, Chief Executive Member (CEM) of Tripura tribal areas autonomous district council Radha Charan Debbarma and opposition leader Sudip Roy Barman.
The government has also released a tri-lingual publication detailing the journey of development in past four-and-half decades against a multiple odds and challenges.
It has further highlighted the success of Tripura in containing insurgency without much bloodshed during Left Front regime.
Flaying the demand of separate tribal state elevating autonomous district council, Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar on the Statehood day pointed out that the attitude is self defeating and suicidal to divide a small geography of 10,490 sqkm on ethnic line.
Defending the argument Sarkar said the government had created ADC for the tribal under 6th schedule of the Constitution and the first Left Front government, led by Nripen Chakraborty, had recognised the language spoken by majority of the tribals Kokborok as the second official language in 1979.
The fourth Left Front government in 1998 had announced a 25-point tribal development programme comprehending the holistic approach to ensure equal pace of development in rural parts of Tripura.
Meanwhile, Manipur is also marching ahead in various fields and trying to remain in the top position in fields medicine sector, Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh said on Thursday while observing the 44th Statehood day.
Addressing a function at MFDC hall, he said the Plan money awarded to Manipur is small and the government is spending all its money to pay its employees.
The financial crisis exacerbated after the implementation of the 6th pay commission. The government had to resort to fund diversion of developmental projects just to pay salaries of employees, he stated.
He said the government is trying to generate revenues and work to excel in many fields.
Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam expressed unhappiness over the failure of large number of government employees in turning up for the function. Chief Secretary O Nabakishore had earlier instructed all senior government officials from the rank of Section officers to attend the function. Actions will be initiated against the employees, he said. Ministers, MLAs, senior government and police officials attended the function.
The Prime Minister Narendra Modi also on Thursday greeted the people of Meghalaya, Manipur and Tripura on their statehood day.
”Greetings to people of Meghalaya, Manipur and Tripura on their statehood day. I wish these states the very best in their development journey,” the Prime Minister said in a message. (UNI)
