Left understands public : Tripura Minister
Source: The Sangai Express / Athokpam Jiten

Agartala, March 19 2013: Longevity of the CPI Government in Tripura, the last remaining stronghold of the Left party, is due to the close coordination with the public and understanding their aspirations rather than the ruling Left Front trying to impose its will upon the people, said the State finance, PWD and Urban Development Minister Badal Choudhury.

Interacting with a media team from Manipur, which is currently in Tripura on an AMWJU-sponsored trip, Badal said the Manik Sarkar-led Government had been according top priority to education, evident from the fact that Tripura is currently third in terms of literacy rate in the country.

Pledging to focus on the social security sector from this year on without any compromise in promoting education, he confided that the Tripura Government ensures sufficient budgetary provision for education of children belonging to below poverty line families, including separate fund for free education of no less than 4000 BPL children every year.

Badal Choudhury interacting with Media

Detailing that from the primary to college level education of students under BPL the Left Government bears education-related expenditures for these students, Badal Choudhury confided that Rs 300 monthly incentive for education is being allocated by the Government of Tripura for two girl child of each family till they attain six years of age.

Maintaining that 41 percent of the State's budget is earmarked for education alone subsequently leading to almost the entire children enjoying educational benefits, he also stated that every BPL family is entitled to 35 kgs of rice each month at the rate of Rs 2 per kg, thereby eliminating the misery of starvation of even the poorest families.

With regard to implementation of development projects, Badal cited the Government's constant monitoring for the judicious implementation of welfare schemes and effective prevention of corruption in the State.

Affirming that the Left Government is committed to making Tripura one of the developed States of the country, he said there is no question of the Government undermining interest of the people living in urban areas as ensuring basic amenities such as a electricity, hygienic drinking water and well connected roads testify.

For areas with hostile terrain condition, helicopter service is being provided at subsidised rate by the Government, said the Minister who also added that in the last five years nearly 8000 educated youths have been employed in different sectors in the State.

Ruling out any Government policy to discourage private sector undertakings in Tripura with the assertion that the Left Government is fully aware of the job opportunities created by private firms, he said the Manik Sarkar Government is determined to further promote Tripura as a State with high growth rate in agriculture rather than rest on its laurel of getting agricultural awards from the Government of India.

Contending that Tripura is free from influx from Bangladesh due to cordial relationships between the tribal and non-tribal populations, the Minister said foreign nationals who had arrived in Tripura prior to 1971 are allowed to settled as its Indian citizens.