City
Epaper

Rs 8,802 cr tribal development project submitted: Tripura CM

By IANS | Updated: January 19, 2020 20:55 IST

The BJP-led Tripura government has submitted, to the Union Home Ministry, a Rs 8,802 crore project for the social, economic, cultural, linguistic and other development of indigenous tribals, who comprise a third of the state's four million population, Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb said on Sunday.

Open in App

In his address in tribal 'Kokborok' language at the 42nd Kokborok Day celebrations, Deb said that his government is committed for all-round development of the indigenous tribals.

"We also initiated moves to further empower the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) and have already taken steps to increase the number of seats from 30 to 50 and to allocate 42 departments to the control of the autonomous bodies," he said.

As promised a year back, Deb, a Bengali-speaker, spoke in Kokborok, becoming the first of Tripura's 10 Chief Ministers to give a speech at an official function in tribal language despite his mother tongue is Bengali.

"People can learn any language if they accept it by heart... one just needs to develop such mentality," said Deb, who on Friday also delivered his speech in the state assembly in Kokborok.

The tribal language, spoken by around 70 per cent of Tripura's 1.2 million tribals, was made the second official language in 1978 by the then Left Front government headed by then Chief Minister Nripen Chakraborty.

On Sunday, Deb also announced a cabinet decision of renaming the Barmura hill, one of the biggest hill ranges of Tripura as "Hathai Kotor", or "big hill" in the tribal language.

He said that the Kokborok subject was earlier taught in 166 various categories of government schools and now these increased to 280 and added that the state government had declared twelve tribal-dominated backward blocks as "aspirational blocks".

On the occasion of the 42nd Kokborok Day celebrations, colourful processions, discussions and seminars were held across the state.

The Chief Minister and his cabinet colleagues and other dignitaries also took part in these colourful rallies showcasing rich heritage and culture of the indigenous people.

( With inputs from IANS )

Tags: DEBtripuraBengali
Open in App

Related Stories

NationalPM Narendra Modi Extends Greetings to People of Meghalaya, Tripura and Manipur on Statehood Day

NationalEnergy-Starved Bangladesh Requests Increase in Electricity Supply from Tripura, Seeks 250 MW Amid Growing Demand

LifestyleDurga Puja 2024: 3 Unmissable Bengali Food Festivals or Restaurants in Mumbai To Feast This Festive Season

NationalTripura: BSF Head Constable Injured in Assault During Anti-Smuggling Operation

NationalTripura Shocker: 62-Year-Old Woman Tied to Tree, Burnt Alive by Her Sons, Says Police Report

National Realted Stories

NationalIndia to have 126 doppler radars by 2026 as govt ramps up weather monitoring

NationalOver 550 illegal immigrants detained in massive crackdowns across Ahmedabad, Surat

NationalIndian Army responds firmly to ceasefire violations by Pakistani troops along LoC

NationalRSS chief Mohan Bhagwat to launch 'The Hindu Manifesto' in Delhi today

NationalPM Modi to distribute over 51,000 appointment letters at 15th Rozgar Mela today