Agartala, Feb 09, 2023, Prasenjit Chakraborty/ TT

Agartala, Feb 09: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday released its manifesto for the ensuing assembly polls with a focus on greater autonomy to Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC), women empowerment, economic progress and farmers’ welfare.

The BJP in its Sankalp Patra (manifesto) promised that under the proposed 125th Constitution Amendment Bill, TTAADC would be restructured for providing more autonomy and additional legislative, administrative and financial powers.

BJP national president Jagat Prakash Nadda unveiled the ‘Sankalp Patra’ during a programme at Rabindra Shatabarshiki Bhavan in Agartala.

Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha, Deputy Chief Minister Jishnu Dev Varma, BJP state president Rajib Bhattacharjee, Union Minister of State Pratima Bhowmik, MP Rajya Sabha Biplab Kumar Deb, MP Lok Sabha Rebati Tripura and chairman of manifesto committee Dr. Ashok Sinha were present.

He said, in the next 5 years the Bharatiya Janata Party government would bring investments worth over Rs. 50,000 crore. For faster economic development of the state and the entire Northeast region the Bharatiya Janata Party government would make Tripura a vibrant economy. Special economic zones would be created in Tripura based on Agar, bamboo and rubber industries. To strengthen the basic infrastructure of the state, Rs 600 crores would be invested from the Tripura Gram Unnat Fund.

Under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojna, an annual stipend of Rs 6000 is given to all farmers of the state. Now, the government would give an additional Rs 2000 per year. Under the Bhoomiheen Kisan Vikas Yojna our government would give an annual stipend of Rs 3000 to all landless farmers, he said.

He promised that religious tourism would be introduced for senior citizens of the state to facilitate their visits to Ayodhya, Varanasi, Ujjain etc for which subsidy would be given in train travel and Laos for travel and stay. SD Burman Performing Arts Academy would also be set up in the state with a focus on making the folk dance, songs, theater and culture more popular.

The BJP also promised that if it returns to power after the February 16 assembly polls, it would establish the Maharaja Bir Bikram Manikya Tribal University, provide cooked food three times a day at Rs 5 per meal through Anukulchandra canteen, double the per-family annual cap from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 10 lakh under the Ayushman Bharat Yojana and housing to all eligible beneficiaries.

According to the manifesto, under the Tripura Janjatiya Vikas Yojna, monetary assistance of Rs 5000 would be provided to all the Tribal families per year. Besides, the honorarium of the Samajpatis would be hiked from Rs. 2000 to Rs 5000.

In the memory of Sri Sri Thakur Anukul Chandra, canteens would be opened in Agartala and other urban areas to provide meals three times a day at a very nominal price of Rs 5.

The other key promises are- Eklavya Model Schools would be opened in every block under the Tripura Tribal Area Autonomous District Council, Maharaja Bir Bikram Manikya Janajati University would be introduced at Gandacherra, 400 government schools would be modernised under the Vidyajyoti and PM Shri schemes Scheme with an investment of Rs. 2000 crore and Mukhyamantri Kanya Atmanirbhar Yojna would be introduced for providing scooty to meritorious girl students of colleges.

If BJP government is formed, a certificate of Rs 50,000 would be given to every family belonging to Economically Weaker Sections on birth of a girl child under Balika Samriddhi Prakalpa. Besides, there would be an investment of Rs.1000 crore for strengthening the Self Help Groups and promoting their products with the goal of women empowerment.

The poll manifesto promised two free LPG cylinders for every beneficiary under Pradhan Mantri Ujjawala Yojana, formation of Birangana, an all-women battalion of Tripura Police, posting of senior officers of ADGP/IGP level in TTAADC areas for law and order and investment of an amount of Rs 500 crore to provide collateral-free loans of up to Rs 10 lakh to MSMEs and Entrepreneurs with a 100 per cent credit guarantee cover.

The 'Sankalp Patra 2023' also promised to provide free rice and wheat to all eligible PDS beneficiaries every month and provide edible oil at a subsidised rate, four times a year through the Public Distribution Systems. The BJP also promised, under the proposed Matsya Sahayak Yojana -- annual financial assistance of Rs 6,000 to all fishermen.

The party also assured to provide smartphones to around 50,000 meritorious college-going students under Mukhyamantri Yuva Yogayog Yojana, and launch the Tripura Road Maintenance and Upgradation Programme with an investment of Rs 1,000 crore to upgrade and modernise road infrastructure in the state over the next 5 years.

If the BJP comes to power in the ensuing elections, Rs 600 crore would be invested in the Tripura Unnata Gram Fund for further developing rural infrastructure, ensuring last-mile delivery of caste certificates by providing caste certificates within 15 days of submission of the application.

Tripura Kaushal Vikas University would be set up for imparting skill development training to at least 50,000 youths with the goal of employment generation. Besides, Tagore BPO would be set introduced in every sub-division for employment of local youths.

Under Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana and Mukhyamantri Swabalamban Yojana, a target would be set to provide loans of Rs. 10 crore to the entrepreneurs in the next five years.

An amount of Rs. 500 crore would be spent under Mantu Debnath Sports Development Scheme for organizing national and international level sports event and developing world-class sports infrastructures.

Tripura Student Credit Card Scheme would be introduced through which the students pursuing higher studies from the institutes of national institutional ranking framework would get interest-free loan of up to Rs. 10 lakh. Tripura Neshamukt Abhiyan would be launched with an expenditure of Rs. 150 crore. Initiatives would be taken to establish institutes like IISR, IIT and IIM in the state.

Dr. Rathin Dutta Health Development Scheme would be introduced for strengthening infrastructures in the existing hospitals, PHCs and sub health centres at an expenditure of Rs. 200 crore and Bike Ambulance service would be launched for emergency services in rural areas.

Initiatives would be taken to set up Customary Court in TTAADC areas for preserving customary laws and tradition of Janajati people. Council Bhavan would be set up at every important city.