Tripura govt making every effort to resolve rehabilitation issues of returnees, says CM

Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha on Monday said the Tripura government was making every possible effort to address the various issues related to the rehabilitation of surrendered militants.

Speaking during a discussion on a private member resolution in the Tripura Legislative Assembly on the last day of the session, the Chief Minister said a rehabilitation package had already been announced for the returnees and that technical officials were working on implementing the guidelines.

There is no lack of effort on the part of the state government to resolve their problems, Dr. Saha said, adding that Tribal Welfare Minister Bikash Debbarma had also been repeatedly discussing the matter and taking steps to address the concerns of the returnees.

The Chief Minister said, formation of various groups among returnees is concerning. Selection of the beneficiaries has been done after scrutiny of all aspects. They have to follow the guidelines; repeated road/ rail blockades are now welcomed.

The Chief Minister said, he held meetings with the returnees’ groups personally in extended form. 
Dr. Saha further said, some issues in implementing the agreement have already been communicated to the Centre and a proper guideline has been sought. He also emphasized for relaxation in criteria, if possible.

The discussion was held during the second half of the Assembly session on the private member resolution moved by MLA Ranjit Debbarma. The notice referred to a media report published on August 22 regarding 72-hour shutdown across Tripura from September 4 by former militants demanding fulfilment of rehabilitation-related commitments.

Participating in the discussion, Tribal Welfare Minister Bikash Debbarma said a Memorandum of Settlement (MoS) had been signed on September 4, 2024, between the Government of India, the Tripura government and representatives of NLFT (BM), NLFT (PD), NLFT (ORI) and ATTF for the rehabilitation of surrendered cadres and socio-economic development of tribal-dominated areas of the state.

According to the minister, the groups included 69 members of NLFT (BM), 16 of NLFT (PD), three of NLFT (ORI) and three of ATTF.

As part of the rehabilitation package, an immediate grant of Rs 4 lakh has been sanctioned for each verified returnee. The amount for all 91 verified cadres has been deposited as fixed deposits with the Gurkhabasti branch of Tripura Gramin Bank, he said.

Vocational training is also being provided as part of the rehabilitation process and will continue for up to 36 months. During this period, each returnee will receive a monthly allowance of Rs 6,000, as stipulated under Clause 12 of the MoS.

The minister said the names of the returnees, along with livelihood-based proposals, had also been forwarded to the concerned departments so that they could avail themselves of benefits under applicable government schemes.

On demands for forest land, Debbarma said the applications had been forwarded to the respective districts. The Tribal Welfare Department, he clarified, did not have the authority to allot forest land.

Such claims would have to be examined by the appropriate district or sub-divisional-level committees in accordance with the Forest Rights Act and its rules, he said.

Under Clause 12 of the MoS, the Centre is to earmark Rs 250 crore over four years, from 2025-26 to 2028-29, for the overall development of Tripura's tribal communities.

The responsibility for implementing the package was assigned to the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), which issued implementation guidelines on September 9, 2025.

Under the guidelines, the state government is required to identify and prioritise eligible project-based proposals, ensure availability of land and submit the proposals to the appropriate state and central authorities for selection and sanction.

However, on August 18, 2026, DoNER clarified that neither community projects nor individual beneficiary-oriented projects could be accepted on privately owned land. The clarification has already been communicated to all four returnee groups, the minister said.

He added that several project proposals submitted by the groups were linked to privately owned land identified by the respective groups, requiring their reconsideration in light of the latest clarification.

Following receipt of the guidelines, consultations were held with all four returnee groups and the concerned line departments, including meetings on October 10 and November 28, 2025.

The Tribal Welfare Minister also held several discussions with the returnees regarding their demands and grievances. The groups were informed about the prescribed procedure, land requirements and the need to prepare project-specific concept notes.

Deficiencies in the proposals were communicated on February 13, 2026, and reiterated on February 27. The government also offered assistance from the concerned departments in preparing proposals in accordance with the guidelines.

The complaints and proposals were further examined in June and July 2026. A meeting was held with the NLFT and ATTF groups in June, during which the need to revise the proposals was again communicated.

The Tribal Welfare Department constituted a committee on July 14 to examine, rationalise and prioritise proposals within the Rs 250-crore SDP ceiling. The committee met on July 20 and 21, when NLFT (PD) and ATTF submitted fresh lists of projects.

The revised proposals received from the four groups comprised 113 projects with a total estimated cost of Rs 310.95 crore—Rs 60.95 crore above the available Rs 250-crore ceiling.

The proposals have consequently been forwarded to the concerned line departments for feasibility assessment and preparation of concept notes in accordance with the guidelines.

A review meeting was held on August 14, while another consultation with the four returnee groups and concerned departments was scheduled for August 31.

In view of DoNER's clarification concerning privately owned land, proposals involving such land will also have to be reconsidered during the consultation, the minister said.

According to the government, records show that regular communication has been maintained with the groups and steps have been taken towards rehabilitation and implementation of the development package.

The vocational training and monthly allowance prescribed under the rehabilitation programme will continue for the stipulated period of 36 months.

Eligible and feasible proposals will continue to be processed in accordance with the MoS, DoNER guidelines, the clarification regarding privately owned land and decisions of the competent authorities.

Referring specifically to the reported announcement of a 72-hour statewide shutdown from September 4, the government said three organisations representing surrendered militants/ returnees—NLFT (PD), NLFT (ORI) and ATTF—were reported to have announced the shutdown at a press conference held at Manikya Court in Agartala on August 21.

The programme was reportedly led by NLFT (PD) president Parimal Debbarma, NLFT (ORI) president Prasenjit Debbarma alias Hastepha, and ATTF president Alendra Debbarma.

The government also listed several measures already implemented for verified returnees and cadres. According to the statement, 12 leaders have been provided security/PSOs based on a classification approved by the Tripura government.

Vocational training has been arranged for 91 verified cadres at the Construction Workers Training Institute in Khumulung and the Radhanagar Shelter House Training Centre in Agartala.

In addition, 13 cadres/ leaders have been provided family accommodation or quarters, while the process of distributing Rs 4 lakh each to all 91 verified cadres has been completed.

The government is also providing Rs 9,45,450 as incentives against arms and ammunition deposited by the groups, while steps are being taken to provide the remaining benefits due to verified cadres under the provisions of the tripartite agreement.

Leader of the Opposition Jitendra Chaudhury and MLA Ranjit Debbarma also participated in the Assembly discussion. 

Debbarma in his discussion raised concern over various groups of returnees and said repeated blockades cause severe public inconvenience. In this regard, Debbarma, drew attention of the government to address the issues, if any. He also informed the House that some of the surrendered militants had fled away to Bangladesh.