Agartala, Nov 15, 2024, TRIPURA TIMES Desk

Agartala, Nov 15: Union Minister of Communication and Development of North East Region (DoNER), Jyotiraditya Scindia on Friday chaired a review meeting on the developmental works in Tripura. 

The meeting was attended by Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha, state agriculture minister Ratan Lal Nath, Transport Minister Sushanta Chowdhury and Tribal Welfare minister Bikash Debbarma.
 
Briefing the media after the review meeting, the Union Minister said that after the Narendra Modi led Government came to power in 2014, the budgetary allocation for the eight north eastern states has been hiked by four times. 

He said during the Congress- led UPA rule the budgetary allocation was a meagre Rs. 24,000 crore for a year, which has been increased to Rs. One Lakh three crore in the last 10 years since the Modi government came to power.
 
The Minister said that the central government is actively working and extending supporting the state government of Dr Manik Saha for bringing a surge in development of Tripura.

Applauding the works of the state government, he said the state is witnessing speedy development, due to which the state has pegged GSDP at Rs. 90,000 crore and the growth rate has gone up at 9%. Similarly, per capita income has increased to a newer encouraging height.  

He further said that in the last 60 years, 10 thousand kms of national highways were constructed in the North East. However, in the last ten years alone 5,500 kms of national highways have been built in the region.
 
Similarly, the grant in-aid has also been increased to the north east region to Rs. 62,000 crore. He assured that all eight North Eastern states will have railway connectivity in the next 2 or 3 years.
 
Saying that two northeastern states, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh did not have a single airport till a few years back, adding that the region presently has 17 airports as against 9 airports being functional 10 years back.
 
Also, the Minister highlighted that out of the 120 mobile towers that are being set up across Tripura, 90 towers have already been installed and remaining 29 towers will be erected by May-June 2025 to complete the cent percent BSNL 4G mobile saturation.
 
The Minister expressed happiness over the rapid implementation of the 5G network across the country and said it took only 31 months which is a record in itself in the world.
 
Earlier on the day, the Union Minister participating in the PM Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas program to mark the150th birth anniversary programme of Bhagwan Birsa Munda at Rabindra Shatabarshiki Bhavan in Agartala said that under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi it is the resolve of his ministry and the Government of Tripura to work towards development of the tribal community in the state.
 
He highlighted that Bhagwan Birsa Munda not only fought for tribal community but for the people of the country, adding that in order to keep the national flag fly high, Bhagwan Birsa Munda laid down his life.
 
Referring to the rich customs and contributions of Indian’s tribal populations, Scindia remarked that had the world accepted the customs, ideology and principles of the tribal community, planet earth would never have confronted the issue of global warming.
 
He said after the country's independence when the tribal community was pushed backward and was cut-off from development, there came a massive change in 2014. He said Prime Minister Narendra after coming to power said that he will not only inquire about the tribals but will even worship them. Mr Scindia said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has vowed to bring every tribal person to the mainstream of the country.
 
The DoNER Minister said that for the first time, the country's Prime Minister visited the birthplace of Bhagwan Birsa Munda, Ulihatu, and there he resolved to bring a scheme for the development of the tribal community. 

Subsequently, with the PM-JANMAN scheme being launched last year, R. 24,000 crore fund was sanctioned for the all-out development of 12 thousand villages inhabited by the most vulnerable tribal communities of the country. 

He said the tribal population living in remote areas would now get drinking water through the Har Ghar Nal Se Jal scheme. The Government has adopted concerted efforts for tribal children’s education. Earlier there were 10 Eklavya Schools, which has gone upto 500 at present. 

Scindia further added that the tribal families are presently getting government benefits through all other central schemes like Ayushman Bharat, Kisan Credit Card and PM Awas Yojana etc.
 
He invoked the contribution of other tribal leaders which were produced in different parts of the country like Kalubai, Rana Punja Bhil who had aided Maharana Pratap during the battle of Haldighati and Rani Durgavati whose 500th birth anniversary will be celebrated soon. He said Rani Durgavati had bravely fought against the Mughals. He underlined that it is the belief of Prime Minister Modi that the journey from Amrit Kaal to Shatabdi Kaal should tread the path to make the country Atmanirbhar.