Tripura, 18 Jan 2026: Chief Minister Professor (Dr.) Manik Saha on Friday said that unity among all sections of society including communities, Indigenous people, minorities, and others is the core foundation for the overall development of the state. He stated that neither a state nor the nation can progress through the development of only one community or Indigenous group. Politics based on division and misleading Indigenous communities, he added, would be detrimental to the state’s development.
The Chief Minister was speaking after inaugurating the newly constructed two-storey building of Madhuchoudhury Para Higher Secondary School under Mohanpur subdivision. On the occasion, he also virtually inaugurated new buildings of three other higher secondary schools Tarapur Higher Secondary School, Gopalnagar Higher Secondary School, and Berimura Higher Secondary School.
He informed that the construction of the new building of Berimura Higher Secondary School cost ₹8.67 crore, while ₹3.99 crore was spent on the construction of each of the remaining three school buildings.
Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision and guidance, Dr. Saha said everyone must work together to build a “New India.” He remarked that the present government does not need advisors, but rather sincere partners who will cooperate in ensuring good governance and development of the state.
Speaking on various welfare initiatives undertaken by the government, the Chief Minister said that development is synonymous with the present government. He alleged that previous governments did not give adequate attention to essential sectors such as education and healthcare, as a result of which the current government has had to shoulder the burden of unfinished work. Despite this, he said, the state has witnessed visible development over the past seven years. He added that ₹7,000 crore was allocated in the current budget for infrastructure development, and regular review meetings are being held to ensure proper utilisation of funds.
Highlighting the importance of education, Dr. Saha said true education helps shape individuals into responsible human beings. He urged students to draw inspiration from the ideals and philosophies of great personalities like Swami Vivekananda and Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan. Teachers, he said, are the real architects of society and must continuously update themselves to guide students effectively in this era of science and technology.
The Chief Minister further stressed the need to transform youth in the 18–23 age group into skilled human resources so that they stay away from social evils like drug addiction. He informed that 12 Eklavya Model Residential Schools are already operational in the state, while nine more will be launched soon. He also said that a proposal has been submitted to the Central Government for setting up 15 additional Eklavya schools by relaxing existing guidelines.
Dr. Saha also elaborated on several flagship initiatives, including Nipun Tripura, Mission Mukul, Saharsh, Lakshya Project, and the Chief Minister’s Kanya Atmanirbhar Yojana. He noted that the law and order situation in the state has improved significantly, creating a favourable environment for increased investment in the future.
Presiding over the programme, Power Minister Ratan Lal Nath said the education system has undergone a major transformation during the tenure of the present government. He stated that education is a key tool to prepare students for the 21st century. He informed that vocational education has been introduced in 478 schools, 422 English-medium schools are functioning, and 27 hostels for Indigenous students have been made operational, while work on 42 is ongoing and construction of 31 more will begin soon.
He also said that rubber plantations have been developed over 69,574 hectares of land in Indigenous areas. To boost sports infrastructure, three synthetic turf football grounds have been constructed in Indigenous areas and work on two more is underway. Additionally, initiatives have been taken to establish 119 more Anganwadi centres in Indigenous regions.
The minister further stated that ₹998 crore will be spent under the JICA 2.0 project and ₹280 crore under the Indo-German 2.0 project during the current government’s tenure. He also presented a data-driven overview of overall development in the Lefunga Block area.
At the programme, Director of School Education N.C. Sharma delivered the welcome address, while Lefunga BAC Chairman Ranbir Debbarma proposed the vote of thanks. Among others present were Lefunga BAC Vice Chairman Budhu Debbarma, Hezamara BAC Vice Chairman Nihar R. Debbarma, and West Tripura Superintendent of Police Namit Pathak. A documentary showcasing the newly constructed buildings of the four schools was also screened during the event.
