Tripura, 05 Feb 2026: Chief Minister Prof. (Dr.) Manik Saha on Tuesday called upon students to be educated in ethics and moral values, stating that the knowledge they acquire must be devoted to the welfare of society and the nation. Only then, he said, would today’s students be able to shape themselves into responsible and humane individuals in the future.
The Chief Minister was addressing a gathering after inaugurating the newly constructed two-storey building of PM-SHRI Hazibari Higher Secondary School in the Fatikroy Assembly constituency. The new permanent school building has been constructed at a cost of ₹1.40 crore.
During his visit to the Fatikroy constituency, the Chief Minister also laid the foundation stone for a new double-lane bridge over the Manu River between Saidarpara and Shardapalli (Kumarghat), to be built at a cost of ₹12.67 crore. In addition, he inaugurated the Sixth Milan Mela-2026 at the ground of Fatikroy Higher Secondary School.
At the various programmes, the Chief Minister was accompanied by Scheduled Caste Welfare Minister Sudhanshu Das, Unakoti Zilla Parishad Sabhadhipati Amalendu Das, District Magistrate Dr. Tamal Majumder, and Superintendent of Police Sudambika R. At the Milan Mela inauguration, Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Tinku Roy, Kumarghat Panchayat Samiti Chairperson Sumati Das, and other dignitaries were also present.
The proposed double-lane bridge over the Manu River will have a length of 148.20 metres and a width of 8.50 metres. Once completed, it will provide easy connectivity for residents of Ratachhara, Kanchanbari, and the Fatikroy Panchayat area to Kumarghat. Laying the foundation stone, the Chief Minister said that around six to seven thousand people would benefit directly from the bridge. Farmers, in particular, would be able to transport their produce easily to the Kumarghat market, and access to the Kumarghat railway station would also become more convenient.
He said the government is working with a clear understanding of people’s problems and is ensuring that there are no gaps in development initiatives. The bridge, he added, would fulfil a long-standing demand of the local people.
Highlighting broader development, the Chief Minister said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given maximum importance to the Act East policy, under which Tripura is being developed on the “HIRA model.” The state has witnessed unprecedented growth in rail connectivity, with modern railway tracks making travel more comfortable. Road infrastructure across the state has also seen significant improvement.
On women’s empowerment, he said the government has set a target of creating 1.18 lakh “Lakhpati Didis” through self-help groups, and more than 1.08 lakh have already been created, bringing the state close to achieving the goal. He also noted that Tripura has made notable progress in ensuring women’s safety, with women now able to move freely even at night. The state’s crime rate has fallen below 8.2 percent, placing Tripura third from the bottom among the 28 states in the country.
Inaugurating the new school building, the Chief Minister said technology is being actively integrated into the state’s education system. Through Personalised Adaptive Learning (PAL), efforts are being made to make education more accessible to students, in line with the National Education Policy. Education, he said, is a path from darkness to light, and the government wants to encourage healthy competition among schools.
He added that Tripura has made significant strides in higher education infrastructure, with several government and private universities now operating in the state. Seats in medical colleges have been increased, a new medical college is coming up in Ambassa, and institutions such as a forensic university and a law university have been established. As a result, the tendency of students going outside the state for higher education has reduced. Along with restructuring the education system, the government aims to instil ethical values among students.
Speaking at the Milan Mela inauguration, the Chief Minister said the government is committed to promoting unity in diversity and preserving the culture and traditions of the state’s various communities and tribes. He also stressed the government’s efforts to fight drug abuse and rehabilitate addicted youth, seeking cooperation from all sections of society. The Milan Mela has been organised to showcase the cultural fabric of the state and to inspire youth through cultural activities.
Scheduled Caste Welfare Minister Sudhanshu Das, Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Tinku Roy, and other dignitaries also addressed the programmes. The meetings were chaired by Saidarpara Gram Panchayat Pradhan Mayarani Das and Unakoti Zilla Parishad Sabhadhipati Amalendu Das, while welcome addresses were delivered by District Education Officer Prashanta Kilikdar and the Milan Mela organisers.
