AGARTALA, March 18: The militancy problem in Tripura has subdued to a great extent, though it is yet to be completely rooted out as it is still present in the minds of the people. But the security forces alone cannot completely root out the problem and there is a need to change the mind-set of the public.
This was expressed by the Minister of Rural Development, Forest, Industries and Commerce, Handloom Handicraft and Sericulture, Tripura Jitendra Chaudhury during a meeting with the group of media persons from Manipur who are on a visit to Tripura at his Agartala Civil Secretariat office.
Further speaking to the media team, he said the insurgency problem which existed in Tripura some years back was not in any way inferior to the insurgency problems faced by several states in the North East region of India.
Development, bringing a change to the public mind-set and security are the three main factors which helped in controlling insurgency in the state, he said.
The Rural Development Minister continued that the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Generation Scheme has been successfully implemented in Tripura which has been made possible by the proper and sincere working of the Gram Panchayat.
He continued that during the process if choosing of beneficiaries for the MGNREGS, not even the concerned Minister, leave alone the members of the Gram Panchayat are allowed to interfere.
The selection of beneficiaries is conducted mainly by the Gram Sabha, he said.
Even though the MGNREGS guideline says so; the power is not handed to the Gram Panchayat, he said.
Local MLAs are not allowed interference in the implementation of the schemes, he said.
“The scheme is taken up in the state strictly according to the guidelines provided and as of the current year preparations for the labour budget is already completed and the panchayati raj institutions are all set to start implementation of the scheme,” he said.
The Tripura Minister continued that the scheme will not only provide jobs to the people but the people will also enjoy the assets constructed during the implementation of the scheme.
The government alone cannot assure successful implementation of the scheme but there is a need to spread awareness amongst the general public of the benefits of the scheme, he said.
He said there are about 6 lakh educated unemployed youths in the state. The state has no capacity to provide jobs to all of them, but the government is considering all possible options, he continued.
The Minister said, the Tripura government has always provided opportunities to the workers in the state.
He continued that since the 30000 (approx.) Manipuri population in Tripura are scattered around the state, the government is facing difficulties in its efforts to appoint Manipuri teachers.
Meanwhile, when asked by the state media team for the construction of a Manipur Guest House in the state, the Minister also provided assurance to look into the issue.