Agartala , Jan 14, 2025, TRIPURATIMES Desk

Agartala Jan 14: Apart from fake and fabricated promises to lure the people for their own political interests and vote bank, BJP did nothing good for the people of Tripura, claimed Tripura Pradesh Congress.

On Tuesday, addressing the press from Pradesh Congress headquarters in the state capital, Pradesh Congress spokesperson Prabir Chakraborty fired fresh salvos towards the BJP-run state government raising questions about its achievements in 7-years tenure.

He pointed out that the state's double-engine government is completing seven years, and people are eager to know what they have achieved during this period.

“The previous government often blamed the central government for the lack of development and employment in the state, stating that the state had to borrow money to run its operations. Before the 2018 assembly elections, the state's debt was 11.851 crore rupees. BJP leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, had promised significant financial assistance from the centre and made 299 promises. They claimed that a one-party government at both the centre and the state would usher in a diamond era (HIRA) for the state. However, none of these promises have been fully implemented, and the state's debt has increased by 26.446 crore rupees. The people are left wondering where all this money is being spent”, said Chakraborty.

He added, “Teachers and employees have not received the central salary scale, irregular employees have not been regularized, and dearness allowance is not being paid regularly. More than 40,000 people have been excluded from the list of social allowance recipients, and 60,000 eligible people have not been included. REGA work has decreased to 30-32 days, wages have not increased as promised, and there are almost no new appointments. Vacancies are being eliminated, and regular wages of contract workers and sanitation workers are not being paid. Existing schools are being closed, and the promise of AIIMS remains unfulfilled. No new hospitals, roads, or bridges have been built, and corruption and commission trading have led to poor quality work in construction projects, including national highways”.

Chakraborty also criticized the government's handling of the devastating floods in August, 2024 which affected over 17 lakh people and caused a loss of more than Rs 15 thousand crore. Despite demands from opposition parties to declare it a national disaster, the state government sought financial assistance of Rs 7083.55 crore from the centre, primarily for infrastructure repairs.

However, there has been inconsistency between the centre and the state government regarding the damage caused by the floods, he said.

Furthermore, Chakraborty mentioned that the Reserve Bank of India, through the central government's Labour Bureau and Labour Journal, revealed that wages earned by the working class in the state are very low compared to other states.

“In 2023-24, the daily income of a male construction worker in the state was Rs. 322.20, significantly lower than in states like Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Andhra Pradesh. Similarly, the average wage in the non-agricultural sector was Rs. 311.11, much lower than in states like Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka”, he mentioned.

“The National Family Health Survey (NFHS) data released by the RBI showed alarming rates of anaemia among children and women in the state. In 2023-24, 64.3 percent of children aged 6 to 59 months and 61.5 percent of women aged 15-49 were anaemic, much higher than in other states”, said Chakraborty.

He further added, “Lastly, the unemployment rate has increased to 14.5 percent, and agricultural production is decreasing every year. During the tenure of this double-engine government, about 1,226 workers lost their jobs, and more than 92,000 children were forced to leave the state or go abroad in search of work. Despite the state government's claims of increased income and job opportunities, the reality appears to be quite different”.

Chakraborty urged the people of Tripura to open their eyes and raise their voice against the ‘misgovernance’ and ‘misrule’ of the present state government.