Forwarding :

‘Approach to People’s Plan in Tripura’ is an attempt of our Government to take Tripura into the new millennium with new development initiatives. The aim is to provide a direction to the development policies and programmes, make the people aware of these programmes and involve them in the process of development of the State.

Tripura has been continuously beleaguered by socio-economic problems since independence. Tripura was converted into an isolated territory with practically all normal communications with the rest of the country affected by the partition of India. The infrastructural facilities of the State failed to develop to the desirable extent because of inadequate Central Government investment in the State. Long neglect of the state and failure in the past to exploit the natural resources led to growing unemployment and resentment among a section of the youth.

Economy of the State is primarily agrarian, with agriculture contributing 42% of employment and 64% of GDP. 90% of the farmers are small and marginal. Agriculture is mainly subsistence in nature and many of the advanced technologies, used by agriculturists elsewhere in the country, have not yet been adopted by the cultivators in the State. However, high rainfall and good soil offer considerable scope for land based economic activities.

The present state of infrastructure, such as communication, power. irrigation, etc. is far from satisfactory, both in terms of quantity and quality. The State ranks very low in the country in terms of the availability of infrastructure. However, natural resources like natural gas, rubber and tea offer considerable promise for the development of the State.

The State Government considers it necessary to provide a clear direction to policy formulation and planning process for all round development of the state. With this objective in view, the reconstituted State Planning Board, in its first meeting held on 6th July, 1998 formed 4(four) Sub-Committees for Primary Sector, Secondary Sector, Tertiary Sector and Tribal Welfare. The Sub-Committees were entrusted with the specific task of identifying the problems in development in their respective areas, and to suggest measures to be taken for development. ‘Approach to People’s Plan in Tripura’ has been prepared on the basis of the recommendations of the sub-committees.

Problems and opportunities of the economy, objectives of the State Government, strategy for development and steps to be taken by the State Government, in general, and specifically in the four areas mentioned above, are discussed in the ‘Approach to People’s Plan in Tripura’.

Our Government attaches the highest priority to the improvement in the general standards of living of all sections of the population, especially, scheduled tribes, scheduled castes, minorities and other backward classes, and equitable development of Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) areas to the same standard as the non-TTAADC areas. Full potential of the State can be realised only if we harness the human resources and provide gainful employment to the educated, semi-educated and non-educated, so that everyone can contribute in the development of the State. Eradication of poverty and creation of employment opportunities, especially in non-Government sector, are thus the twin objectives of the planning process in the State. These are possible only through land reforms to which our Government is committed. Eradication of illiteracy, development of minimum health facilities, providing all sections of the population with clean drinking water and housing, improving the communication facilities are other important areas, to which the Government will pay immediate attention.

For a balanced development of the state and formulation of a long-term plan, it is necessary to exploit the resources available to us, including the human resource. As a follow up action, therefore, it will be necessary to conduct the resource mapping, significantly, not by any Government agency but by the people themselves. This will not only provide a firm database but will also generate awareness among the people.

All this, and more, is possible only through the active participation of the people in the planning and development process of the State. Participation of the people is the key to the success of any plan. For this, we already have very strong Panchayat Raj and ADC area institutions in the State. These will be further strengthened and may be moulded, if necessary. The institutions at the Gram/Village level will be the units for planning and implementation. This will not only ensure the active participation of the common people but will also bring the administration closer to the people. The formulation and implementation of the plan will thus be by the people, for the people and of the people.

This is only a beginning, to take us into the new millennium. I will urge upon all sections of the people of the State to come together and help the Government in ushering in an era of prosperity in the State.

                                                                (Manik Sarkar)
                                                                    Chief Minister


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