CHAKLA ROSHNABAD

Chakla Roshnabad :- A permanently settled estate, with an area of 570 square miles, belonging to the Raja of Hill Tippera, situated in the Eastern Bengal Districts of Tippera and Noakhali, and in the Assam District of Sylhet. In 1901-02 the demand for revenue was 1.53 lakhs and for cess of Rs. 56,000 the annual income from rents and cess is 8 lakhs. 

The estate originally formed part of the State of Hill Tippera, which came into the possession of the Muhammadans in 1733. The Muhammadans never troubled themselves about the hills, but they assessed the plains to revenue, and the East India Company followed their example. The revenue assessed at the Permanent Settlement in 1793 was cess of Rs. 1,39,676. At the request of the Raja, the estate was brought under survey and settlement in 1892-99, and the final report supplies complete information regarding it. Excluding the portion in Sylhet, which was not surveyed, the area measured was 558 square miles, of which 401 were cultivated, 39 cultivable waste, and the rest was made up of uncultivable lands and water.

517 square miles were rent paying, and of this area 252 square miles were held direct by riots, 208 square miles by tenure-holders with variable rents, and the balance by tenure-holders at fixed rents. The tendency is towards subdivision of the tenures rather than in the direction of further sub-infatuation. The average area of a riot's holding is 34 acres, from which he derives a net income of Rs. 133 per annum. Rice covered four-fifths of the cultivated area, the other important crops being jute (8,ooo acres), chillies (6,700 acres), mustard (4,932 acres), and sugar-cane (1,687 acres). The population of the estate in 1891 was 467,000, or 837 persons per square mile. The settlement increased the rental of the estate from 5.84 lakhs to 6.76 lakhs, or by 6 per cent., the cost of the operations being 5.28 lakhs, or Rs. 1-8 an acre. Chaklasi.-Town in the Nadiad tdluka of Kaira District, Bombay, situated in 22.39' N. and 72.57' E. Population (1901), 7,340. In 1898 an outbreak occurred here among persons of the Dharala caste, who had been led to believe that the British Government had ceased to exist. The police were at first repulsed, but eventually arrested the ringleaders. The town contains a boys' school with 303 pupils. 

One of the three circles into which the Chittagong Hill Tracts, Eastern Bengal and Assam, are divided for administrative purposes. It occupies the centre and north of the District, lying between 22. 7' and 23.13' N. and 9"43' and 92'36'E., with an area of 2,421 square miles. It is a land of hills and valleys, bounded on the south by the Bomong circle, on the north-west by the Mong circle, on the north and east by forest Reserves, and on the west by the District boundary. Population (1901), 48,789, having increased by 7.1 per cent. since 1891. The people mostly belong to a tribe known as Chakmas.

Dipa Karmakar bagged bronze in women's vault, created history

Glasgow: Dipa Karmakar became the first Indian woman and the second person from the country to clinch a historic Commonwealth Games medal in artistic gymnastics when she won the women's vault bronze at the SSE Hydro here on Thursday.

Agartala-born Dipa got the bronze with an average score of 14.366. The 20-year-old had scored a mere 13.633 points in Vault 1, the lowest out of eight competitors in the final.

However, in a remarkable comeback, Dipa scored the highest in Vault 2 with 15.100 to bring up her average to 14.366. 

Cabinet resolves to create 13 new blocks, 4 Nagar Panchayats, expand AMC

The state cabinet on Tuesday the Aug 13, 2013 resolved to further bifurcate blocks and create new Nagar Panchayats as a part of the effort of extending decentralization of administration. Addressing a press conference at the civil secretariat here today, Chief Minister Manik Sarkar said, 13 new blocks has been added to the existing list of 45 blocks. The new blocks are Bamutia, Old Agartala, Belbari, Charilam, Mohanbhog, Kalachari, Laljuri, Tepania, Poangbari, Bharatchandranagar, Raishyabari etc. New Gram Panchayats would be added to Boxanagar, Kathaliya and Kakraban blocks. New Nagar Panchayats would be created at the newly created sub-divisional headquarters at Panisagar, Melagarh, Mohanpur and Jirania. The new administrational units are scheduled to start operation from September, Chief Minister Sarkar said.

He also said that the Agartala Municipal Council (AMC) areas would be widened during the same initiative of bifurcation. Some Gram Panchayats like Hapania, Gajaria would fully come inside the periphery of AMC while others like Hapania, Singerbil, Narsingarh would have few wards included inside the municipal area. The overall area of the Agartala Municipal Council is currently 58.184 square Km which would be raised to 76.504 Square Km at completion of the restructuring. Population living inside AMC areas would also rise from 3 lakh 58 thousand 338 to 4 lakh 38 thousand 408.

The Department for Urban Development (UDD) has been asked to conduct a study for figuring out prospects of making a municipal corporation out of AMC. “Our rules say that a civic area can be declared a municipal corporation with 5 lakh or above population. However, several cities in other states are now declaring themselves as corporation barely with 2 lakh population. We are considering prospects of changing the rules”, the CM said.

Agartala – Akhaura rail work to start from Jan, 2015

The work of proposed 15.54 Km Agartala – Akaura international rail route is expected to start from January 2015, said Alok Sinha leader of the Indian delegation.Interacting with media today after the Project Steering Committee meeting of the railway project he announced that the land demarcation of Indian side is complete, the work on Bangladesh is near completion and the detail project report is expected to be submitted this year. He informed that the 4th PSC meeting will held at Dhaka on September.The leader of Bangladesh delegation Sunil Chandra Pal said the demarcation of land is near completion and Bangladesh Railway is working with close collaboration with IRCON, a central PSU unit of India in certain parts of the proposed alignment due to land owner ship issues. He assured that the Bangladesh government ready to start work of the project within the same time frame along with India by January, 2015.The Government of India sanctioned a fund of Rs. 252 crores for the 15 Km rail-line project connecting Agartala railway station in India with Akaura rail station via Gangasagar railway station in Bangladesh plying through Siddhi Ashram, Badharghat Martripalli and Charipara in the outskirts of Agartala city. The rail line would be connected with its counterpart in Bangla through Nischintapur in the Indo-Bangla borderline.

Rubber Transforms Life of Poor Tribals in Tripura

Bishramganj (Tripura), IANS: Thirteen years ago, Bipin Chandra Debbarma was a poor nomad. Today, the septugenarian tribal lives in a concrete house, drives a car and has all the household gadgets available in the market.

This miraculous transformation in his lifestyle has been made possible by the natural rubber cultivation he has been engaged in all these years.

"I am a happy man now. I never dreamt of such a life. Rubber cultivation has changed the condition of my family," Debbarma, a former Jhumia (shifting cultivator), told IANS."Not only my family. Hundreds of other Jhumia families have seen a dramatic development in a short period because of cultivating rubber," said Debbarma, president of the Bhagaban Para Rubber Producers Society (BPRPS) that owns a 54.4 hectare rubber garden at Bhagaban Para village in Sipahijala district in western Tripura.

In India's northeast, especially Tripura, rubber cultivation is yielding a better life for poor tribals, who were practising 'jhum' or the slash-and-burn method of cultivation, and dramatically altering the economy of the region.

Not just the Jhumias. Even the terrorists who have surrendered to the government and others have taken to rubber cultivation.

"A majority of the erstwhile shifting cultivators are now engaged in rubber cultivation or in other cash crop farming," said Industry and Rural Development Minister Jitendra Chowdhury.

The Rubber Board's additional production commissioner, K.G. Mohanan, said: "Natural rubber is stable livelihood for around 52,000 farmers' families and an almost equal number of workers' families in Tripura." Tripura is the second largest area after Kerala where natural rubber is cultivated, with around 60,000 hectares producing about 26,000 tonnes of natural rubber in 2010-11.

Tripura's tribal welfare department and the Rubber Board have been providing financial and technical support to the rubber cultivators.

The BPRPS started its plantation in 1999 with this help and production of rubber latex began in 2007. The latex was processed to make rubber sheets that were sold to Manimalayar Rubbers private limited, a company jointly floated by the Rubber Board and the rubber producers' society.

"Over 80 tribal youths, including women, got permanent jobs at the BPRPS. They are engaged in nursing the rubber garden, latex collection, making and processing rubber sheets and various other works," said BPRPS vice president Ranjit Debbarma.

"During monsoon, our society earns about Rs.8 lakh in a month through selling rubber sheets. In the remaining months, our income ranges from Rs.17 lakh to 18 lakh per month," he added.

According to the tribal welfare department, about 51,265 families were totally dependent on jhum cultivation until 1999.

A 2007 survey by the forest department showed a clear decline in the number to around 27,278 families. Forest department officials say the number of Jhumia familes has now come down to less than 20,000.

North-Eastern State Tripura and It’s Trade Condition

 Tripura is one of the smallest states in terms of area in the north-east India. The total area of Tripura is 10,477 square kilometer. Geographically Tripura looks like a cashew nut. The state was not a part of the Indian Territory in the pre independence era. India got rid of the clutches of the British Empire, TRIPURA merged with the Indian soil. Erstwhile the state had four districts but recently eight districts twenty three Sub-divisions and forty-five blocks have also been introduced. Tripura also has one Tribal Areas Autonomous District    Council (TTAADC) which was set up in 1982 under the seventh schedule of the Constitution. The TTAADC covers about 2/3rd of the total area of the state.

                                        Tripura shows its border with the neighborhood country Bangladesh in its north, south and west. The length of its international border with Bangladesh is 856 kilometer (84 percent of its total border), while it shares 53 kilometer border with Assam and 109 Kilometer border with Mizoram. Tripura is connected with the rest of the country by road, air and train.

                                     The state is characterized by geographical isolation, poor infrastructure facilities. Communication bottleneck, inadequate exploitation of natural resources (national gas, rubber, forest etc); low capital formation, almost non-existence of industry and high level of incidences of poverty and un-employment.

                                 In these aspects we can say that the north-eastern state of Tripura is an underdeveloped state. By the development of economics we can say that international trade plays a vital role in the process of economic development of underdeveloped economy. The classical and neoclassical economist also attach great importance to international trade .Renowned economist Robertson considers international trade as an engine of growth. We shall try to discuss how international trade helps in economic development of an underdeveloped economy.

                                   An underdeveloped country’s economy may enjoy various benefits from international trade.

·    When a country is engaged in international trade, it specializes in the production of few goods and involves division of labor. If exports those commodities in which a country enjoys a comparative advantage.

·     We know that an underdeveloped economy suffers from a vicious circle of poverty. One of the main reason s behind this vicious circle of poverty is the narrow internal market in the underdeveloped countries. Foreign trade or international transactions will help to break the vicious circle of poverty of an underdeveloped economy inducement to invest by extending the market. International trade helps to break the Nurksian vicious circle of poverty.

·    Land and labor are under utilized in the traditional subsistence sector in an under developed economy. The opening up of the economy to international trade provides larger opportunities to produce more primary products for export. 

·    According to Haberler, international trade increase international completion .It thus eliminates inefficient monopolies and creates an urge for increasing efficiency among the entrepreneurs. This also helps in economic development.

     Thus, there are direct or indirect benefits of international trade. International trade extends the market, rises the scope of specialization, makes greater use of productive capacity, encourages inventions and innovation, help to borrow foreign capital and foreign technology, induces to increase efficiency, eliminates inefficient monopoly, creates new demand patterns and thus induces change in output  structure and soon.

      Now if we look at the state of Tripura, we see that there is lots of possibility to take the international trade policy. International trade between India and Bangladesh started from 1995-96.Before international trade it was illegal trade. At present there are eight land custom stations in Tripura. These are Agartala, Sonamura, Belonia, Muhuripur, Khuwai, Dhalaighat, Manughat, and Raghnaghat.

                   There is a short distance between Tripura and important cities of Bangladesh. The average distance between Tripura and the capital of Bangladesh Dhaka, Cartogram and others important cities of Bangladesh is 150 kilometer.

                  Before 1960 and 1970 there was no international trade. At that time there was illegal international trade. Then Tripura illegally imported Fish,Jamdhani sharee ,Egg and Gold etc, from Bangladesh. Not only Tripura but also Bangladesh imported Sugar, Cloth, Jackfruit, Orange, Pineapple, Bamboo, and Hardware goods.

               After 1995-96 Tripura and Bangladesh both have started international trade facilities. Now Tripura exports Rubber sheet ,  Orange , Jackfruit ,Pineapple , Fish of Andhra , Onion , Ginger , coal ,  etc, to Bangladesh.

               On the other hand Tripura imports Bricks , Jute , Stone chips , Fruit juice , Jamdhani sharee , Cosmetics , Dry fish , Raw material of cotton , Mineral water , Edible oil ,Petrochemicals ,  Potato chips , Synthetic piper , Biscuit , P V C pipe , Screw of iron , Toilet sop , M S rod  , and etc  from Bangladesh.

              If we see the export and import of Tripura then we see that there is unfavorable trade for the state of Tripura. Because import goods of Tripura is more than export of Bangladesh.

            Export and import view of Tripura can be express by the help of following table.

Year	Export of Tripura(in corers)	Import of Tripura(in corers)	Balance of trade(Export - Import)in corers
1995-96	0.36	3.76	-3.4
1998- 99	1.36	14.1	-12.74
1999-2000	1.74	7.44	-5.7
2000-2001	0.81	9.69	-8.88
2001-2002	1.27	4.38	-3.11
2002-2003	1.57	5.47	-3.9
2004-2005	1.500	12.49	-10.99
Total	8.61	57.33	-48.72

            

            Sources: (1) Govt. of Tripura, Economic Review of Tripura 2002-2003

                            (2) Dainik Sambad; Date: 30-03-2006; Page: 5.

      

            If we see the upper export and import year basis table then we see that the import is higher than export in the case of Tripura. The amount of deficit of international balance is increasingly increased in case of Tripura. In the year of 1995-96 the amount of deficit was 3.40 corers now it has increased 11.99 corers in 2004-05 financial year.

     To conclude we can say that in the short run international trade between Tripura and Bangladesh is contrariety in the case of Tripura. However, ultimately this scenario will be changed. If the government policy of India “Purbe Takao” (see the east) materialized practically then the condition of Tripura’s industries structure will be changed. Despite of the existence of these types of policy Tripura will not be a developed state without industry or industrial products. It is important to increase or adopt the new industry for the development of Tripura. Any state or country cannot be a developed country without industry. If we cannot expand industry, market size, involvement of private entrepreneurs, it                                  is impossible to overcome the deficit of international trade in future. So we can say Tripura will be a developed state in future by international trade.

Integrated Farming Can Increase Agriculture Productivity

BY: Kiran Bhowmik

[A farmer who depends on rains, conserving every drop of water by increasing moisture retention in the soil is important. Maximizing yield with less water should be his objective. To achieve this one needs to integrate mixture cropping, tree growing and animal breeding. Thus the multi product of one unit will serve as input for another. Labour utilization will be optimum. ]

Agriculture is the riskiest profession in the world, since natural factors like temperature, precipitation, hail and thunder thunder storms, and pest epidemics influence crop yield and thereby the economic fate of the farmer. Indian agriculture has long been described as a gamble in the monsoon. But it is also now becoming a gamble in temperature. The Government’s National Rural employment scheme is also creating a big labour shortage and forcing many farmers to abandon their cultivation. Getting access to financial loans from banks is also proving to be difficult for many who turn to private money lenders.

Indian agriculture is prone to all possible hazards, which Often end-up in disasters. Unique geoclimatic conditions make the country vulnerable to hazards & disasters, which are both natural and human-induced. The common natural hazards in India are droughts, floods, cyclones, land slides, forest fires, avalanches and pest / disease outbreaks in plants & animals, besides earth-quakes and tsunami.

Of these, the most common are droughts and floods. Even within a year, while some regions are affected by drought, others face the flurry of floods. These are partly man-made because of the failure to adopt a long-term strategy for better management of available water resources.

Frequently occurring natural calamities play havoc with the people, especially the vulnerable sections living in rural areas, which constitute about 70 percent of the country’s population.

Not only there was losses of human and animal lives, there are devastating damages to rural infrastructure, which is already inadequate and poor, causing severe setback to the rural economy and retarding the already slow development process and at the same time putting a heavy strain on public exchequer. In India, about 68 percent of land is vulnerable to droughts. Droughts lead to economic losses resulting from low agricultural production, loss of animal resources, reduced nutrition and loss of health of workers.

In India, In the name of industrialization and urbanization, trees have been cut. With the absence of trees, rains fail and this has a direct impact on the planet. While others may feel it, farmers experience it acutely, and monsoon failure results in a disaster for farmers, especially dry land cultivators.

A farmer who depends on rains, conserving every drop of water by increasing moisture in the soil is important. Maximizing yield with less water should be his objective.

To achieve this one needs to integrate mixture cropping, tree growing and animal breeding. Thus the by-product of one unit will serve as input for another. Labour utilization will be optimum.

Even farmers having fertile land and abundant water resources are finding it hard to practice commercial agriculture. How can a small dryland farmer hope to succeed ?

A dryland is not nature-made. Nature is always flourishingly rich. Drylands are man-made. When one goes on cutting trees, over a period of time the area becomes barren and unproductive due to the absence of surface water and ground water recharge.

In due course, farmers sell these drylands to traders who buy these lands for a throwaway price and sell it as commercial plots for a huge amount.

With farm lands shrinking and erratic climate patterns, increasing food grain production and food security does become a vital point to ponder.

By proper planning and initial low investments drylands can be made productive. For example cropping patterns have to be closely monitored. Farmers can grow drought resistant native crops which require less water. Also the native varieties are resistant to pests and infestations.

In addition farmers can dig small ponds, or pits in the fields. These serve as effective rain catch ers. They can grow fishes such catla, roghu, mirgal and grass carper to get additional food and income when the the pits get filled with rain water.

If they have cattle, azolla can be ideally grown in these water bodies. The azolla can be harvested and used as a feed for their cattle and poultry as it has been proved that azolla increases the milk yield in cattle and egg laying in chicken.

The only answer to poverty alleviation springs from good income and this can be achieved when farmers adopt multiple cropping systems or integrated farming system and different occupational strategies rather than concentrating on a single area.

Local Self Government in Tripura with Special Reference to TTAADC

INTRODUCTION

Local Self-government is a form of administration such that the inhabitants of a certain territory form a community that is recognized by the Central government and has a specific legal status and was originated by the Anglo-Saxons.

Panchayat Raj (Rule of Village Committee) system is a three-tier system in the state with elected bodies at the village, Taluk and District levels. It ensures greater participation of people and more effective implementation of rural development programmes.

India has a chequered history of Panchayat Raj starting from self sufficient and self-governing village communities that survived the rise and fall of empires in the last to the modern institutions of governance at the third tier provided with constitutional support.

EARLY HISTORY

 During the time of Rig-veda (1700 BC) evidence suggest that self-governing village bodies called ‘Sabhas’ existed and with the passage of time, these bodies became panchayats (council of five persons)

DURING BRITISH RULE

During British rule the autonomy of Panchayat declined and replaced the Mahalwari or Village tenure system with individual Ryotwari (Village holder-wise) system assigning least priority to Panchayat system only for their self interest. To manage, suppress the protest and demand of Indian people British from time to time formed different commission and reform committee on formation of different local bodies.

Post-independence period: The first five year plans and 2nd five year plan has failed to bring into the planning and implementation of policies and the active participation of common people at the grass root level.

Following committees were formed for strengthening the PRI system:

The Balwant Rai Mehta Committee (1957)

Ashok Mehta Committee (1978)

G.V.K Rao Committee (1985)

L.M. Singhvi Committee (1986)

THE 73RD CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT ACT

All the measures taken so far could not eliminate the rural poverty and accelerate the development process to desired extent. The institutional initiatives failed and in response to this the idea of the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act emerged as giant steps towards achieving the true spirit of decentralization. It was a political drive to see PRI as a solution to the government crisis that India was experiencing and interestingly it was moved by both the centre and state government.

The constitutional (73rd Amendment) Act passed in 1992 by the Narasimha Rao government came into force on April 24,1993.It was meant to provide Constitutional Sanction to establish “democracy at the grassroots level as it is at the state level or national level”.

THE SALIENT FEATURE

The Gram Saha or Village assembly as a deliberative body to decentralized governance has been envisage as the foundation of the Panchayati Raj system.

A uniform three-tier structure at village (Gram Panchayat-GP) intermediate or block (Panchayat samity-PS) and District (Zilla Parishad-ZP) levels.

All the seats in a panchayat at every level are to be filled by elections from respective territorial Constituencies.

Not less than one-third of the total seats for membership as well as of chairpersons of each tier has to be reserved for women.

Reservation for weaker castes and tribes (SC & ST) has to be provided at all levels in proportions to their population in the Panchayats.

To supervise, direct and control the regular and smooth elections to panchayats a state Election Commission has to be constituted in every state and Union Territory.

The Act has ensured constituted of a state Finance Commission in every state      /Union Territory for every five year to suggest measures to strengthen finance of panchayat raj institutions.

To promote bottom-up-planning the District planning Committee (DPC) in every district has been accorded constitutional status.

An indicative list of 29 items has been given in eleventh Schedule of the constitution panchayats are expected to play an effective role in planning and implementation of works related to these 29 items.

THE SETUP OF LOCAL SELF GOVERNMENT IN TRIPURA AND TTAADC

Decentralization is popular word in social science discourse. It is widely interpreted as an instrument of good Governance and means of democratic development process.

In deed, a democracy works when all people including the most marginalized of the society participates in the process of governances has capability to ask questions and seek accountability. For countries like India, it is an indispensable precondition for social, economic and political development and necessary conditions for strengthening institutions.

The real test of decentralization lies in its contribution towards peoples empowerment by way of providing the significant role in decision making and in entire process of governance bodies have been held regularly since 1978 when Left Front was elected to govern the state. Since 1993,following the constitutional amendments in this regard Tripura has a three-tier structure of elected local bodies or Panchayat raj institution (PRI) at Gram Panchayat, Block Panchayat (Panchayat Samiti) and District Panchayat (Zilla Panchayat) levels. In addition, Tripura also has the unique institution of the Tribal Area Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) vested with power intended to ensure a large degree of self-government to tribal.

OBJECTIVES OF THE PRESENTATION

To understand various development of decentralization governance in India with specific areas of development in TTAADC of Tripura

To highlight the level of involvement of people of the grassroots and the problem and difficulties faced by them in involvement of governance and development process in TTAADC area.

To understand the nature of such problem with the Indian experience of democratic decentralization and working of the institutions of grass-root democracy at rural level in TTAADC areas Local Self Government.

Focuses on the problems in effective and meaningful decentralization arising out of various legal, social, economic and political factors and seeks to suggest measures to make local self-governance more realistic and fruitful in TTAADC areas.

In Tripura, there are vibrant self local bodies in both ADC and Non-ADC areas. In addition to rural local bodies there are urban local bodies.

An important issue in the context of the state of Tripura is that of recognizing the distinct identity of tribal’s and the need to provide a degree of autonomy to them with a view to ensuring the protection of the economic, social and cultural interests of the tribal population. Historically, with in-migration of non-tribal’s, including displaced persons from other territories into Tripura over several decades, the tribal population has become a minority in the state in which tribal’s were originally the overwhelming proportion of the population. Several decades and struggles later, a distinctive and democratic resolution of the issue was arrived at when the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) was created under the seventh schedule of the Indian Constitution through the passage of a Bill brought forward by the Left Front government of Tripura in 1979. The first TTAADC was elected in January 1982. Subsequently, through a constitutional amendment, the TTAADC was brought under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution in 1985.

TTAADC: STRUCTURE AND POWERS

The TTADC has 28 elected members and 2 tribal members nominated by the Governor of the State. 25 constituencies are reserved for tribal’s The TTAADC is vested with both legislative and executive powers. The Chairperson of TTAADC is responsible for the conduct of legislative functions. An executive council of members with a chief executive member (analogous to a cabinet of ministers and a chief minister) discharges the executive functions of TTAADC. The administrative, legal and financial powers of the TTAADC are listed in

TTAADC accounts for 70% of the State’s area and 30% of its population. It is spread over all the four districts. Corresponding to the Gram Panchayats of the non-ADC area, there are 522 village development councils in TTAADC territory spread over 13 blocks. There are 462 revenue villages spread over 151 Tehsils in the TTAADC territory. The TTAADC runs 1375 primary schools and 442 social education centers. It operates through 5 zonal and 37 sub-zonal offices. Though the TTAADC has some taxation powers, its expenditure is substantially covered by funds received from the state government. Some data on funds annually provided to TTAADC is presented.

The TTAADC is an example of the practical relevance of regional autonomy within a framework of formation of states based on the principle of linguistic nationality. It is noteworthy that both tribals and non-tribals were involved in and supported the process of formation of TTAADC. Thus the TTAADC was a product of the joint struggle of tribal and non-tribal democratic movements to protect the identity and rights of tribal’s. The objectives underlying the formation of TTAADC were to provide internal autonomy in compact areas inhabited overwhelmingly by tribal’s, protect the social, economic and cultural interests of the tribal population and promote the all-round socio-economic development of the territory covered by the TTADC

PROSPECTS AND OUTCOME

Participation of people through village Sabha, Social audit at the grass root level of policy making and implementation there by bringing greater transparency in public transaction and social checks on the actual implementation process.

Women empowerment through participation in village sabha meeting in all spheres of political, economic and social issues.

Effective management of natural resources and improvement in awareness on social issues.

Improvement in Education, Health in rural areas.

The regional autonomy within a state is safeguarded by providing through district council a distinctive elected autonomous body.

Due to overall development and greater participation of PRI bodies at the grass root level and the interaction with the common masses the threat of extremist violence in the interior areas of Tripura is brought under control. The separatist who got misguided went out of the mainstream to disturb the peace and tranquility of the region was tackled and solved.

Restoration of peace in the interior area of state due to active participation of PRI bodies

CHALLENGES

Capacity building

More awareness required for effective implementation of various policies of      government.

More administrative training on modern ICT etc for effective co-ordination.

Local self-government should give priority taking into account the regional specifics.

There are hurdles and problem due to different natural climatic condition, vast unpopulated area, communication problem lack of good road networks. So planning should be done taking into account all these things.

increasing efficiency and effectiveness of authorities

improving environment for business development

Harmonizing the relationship between citizen TTAADC authorities and business.

Establishment of civil society.

Increasing transparency and reducing corruption

Decreasing social tension

CONCLUSION

As a fruit of effective Self Government body in TTAADC exclusively for tribal areas has been boon for upliftment of the condition of poor tribal people in remotest habitations in the sector of Education, Health and all spheres of economic, political and social issue.To encourage the economical development it is necessary that state government  ensures the democratization of government management, de-monopolization of state economy as well as instulation of sustainable an efficient authority. At last the road map to successful local self-government can be achieved by the following root map.

Democratization of government managementàDevelopment of local self-governmentàStrengthening of rural economyàintensification of rural citizens creative effortàestablishment of Civil societyàrural development

TEMPLE OF FOURTEEN GODS

The temple of 14 Gods, one of the famous pilgrims spot of the state is situated at old Agartala, 6 km to the east of Agartala, the capital city of tripura. Originally  these deities were worshiped at the temple of Udaipur. Udaipur  was the capital of Tripura Kingdom for a long time. Due to the harassment of Shamser Gazi  The capital was shifted to Puran Haveli or Old Agartala .

The divine inmates had been moved at the present temple during the reign of king Krishna Manikya (alias Krishnamoni).It is said that first of all the images of 14 Gods had been installed by the king Trilochana of pre-historic era. King Krishna Manikya had shifted the capital from Udaipur to old Agartala. Here only the heads of Gods and Goddesses are worshipped by a group of priest headed by the chief priest called Chantai. A week long religious festival is held (kharchi puja) in the premises of the old and derelict palace in the close vicinity of the shrine in the month of Sravana. (July-August). The images of the Chaudadevatas is made of astadhatu or alloy of eight metals- gold, silver, lead, tin, copper, iron, antimonyand zinc. Originally these idols were about half life size. But now the size is reduced to the size of heads with a portion of the neck. In older days human beings were sacrificed before these deities. During the reign ofKing Dhanya Manikhyaa huge number of defeated army of enemy king were slaughterd at the altar of the deities.This practice of Narabalihas been stoppedsince long time. Now goats andbirds are sacrificed on daily basis.  

The 14 Gods and Goddesses are as follows:

(1)Hara (Siva)

(2)Uma (Durga)

(3)Hari (Visnu)

(4)Maa (Laxmi)

(5)Bani (Saraswati)

(6)Kumara (kartika)

(7)Ganapati (Ganesa)

(8)Bidhi (Brahma)

(9)Kshoa (the world)

(10)Abhi (God of ocean)

(11) Ganga (sacred Hindu river)

(12) Sikhi (Agni)

(13) Kaama (God of love)

(14) Himadri (the Himalaya Mountain)

Krishna Manikya had shifted the capital of Tripurafrom Udaipur to Old Agartala (Kherpur).

A week long religious festival called Kharchi Puja Mela is celebrated every yearin the month of Sravan in the premises of temple ofFourteen Gods. Peoplefrom all section of people participate in this Mela. It has become anexample ofof the peacefulcoexistence of all people for getting their cultural differences. Tribal and non tribal culture intermingle here to give a different dimension . This festival foster the feeling ofunity among the people. It has become the festival of all people of Tripura.

Evolution of Agartala city

1838: Maharaja Krishna Kishore Manikya set up the 'Old Haveli' at the other side of the river Howrah. The area used to be identified up to Kunjaban tilla at the north Jagaharimura and Rashman tilla to the south,the British India at the west and the river Howrah at the east. Due to frequent invasion of the Kukis and also to keep easy communication with the British Bengal, the Maharaja started the process of shifting of the Capital from Old Haveli to New Haveli (present Agartala) in the year 1849 A.D. The next Maharaja Iswar Chandra Manikya on assuming throne on 1 February 1850 A.D constructed a Palace thereon.

1862: Bir Chandra Manikya started the urbanization of the New Haveli (Agartala)

1871: The Agartala Municipality was established within area of 3 sq. miles having population 875 only by a royal proclamation. Mr. A.W.S. Power, the 1st British Political Agent for Tipperch was appointed as the Chairman of the Agartala Municipality in the year.

1872 A.D. As suggested by the 2nd Political Agent Capt. W.L. Samwell, Maharaja becomes the President of the Municipal Committee. And on behalf of the Maharaja Bir Chandra manikya, Prince Radhakishore took an active role in supervising the Municipal works.

1874: Municipal regulations were introduced with provision of taxation. The main source of income was from water tax levied on tanks and water bodies, realised fine amount of judiciary and state grant. The main task was to look after the development and maintenance of roads /paths.,drainage, bridges and markets and sanitation. During the period, the Akhaura Khal was excavated for drainage.

1897: Maharaja Radha Kishore Manikya re-organised the entire administration and the officer-in-charge of the Political Department was entrusted with the Municipal affairs. During the period,. The work of Census, birth and death registration, regular sweeping and cleaning of roads and drains used to be mades

1978: Agartala Municipality was divided into 10 wards for the purpose of election of commissioners for the municipality by enlarging the municipal area to 10.94 km2. The second general municipal election was held in June 1978, Shri Amal Dasgupta was elected chairman of the 10 members elected municipal board. The municipality was further extended to an area of 15.81 sq.k.m and was divided in to 13 wards. The 3rd general municipal election was held in July 1983.

1988 to 1996: The municipality was placed under government nominated administrator. 26 October 1994: The Tripura Municipal Act.1994 was passed as per 74th amendment of the Constitution of India, The 4th general Municipal election was held in December, 1995, and municipal council of 17 elected members and 3 nominated members was formed. After the 5th general municipal election held in the month of December 2000 another municipal council with 17 elected members and 3 nominated members came to power. The municipal area was 16.012 sq. k.m. with population of 1,89,998 as per 2001 census.

2004: The Agartala Municipal Council has further been extended from 16.012 km2 to 62.02 km2 in 2004 with a population of 368493 persons. The total GAPA area covers 92 km2.

2014: Agartala Municipal council turns in Municipal Corporation.

AMC turns Corporation, 10 new municipal councils start functioning :-

The Agartala Municipal Council, northeast India's oldest municipal body, on the day of 42nd Tripura statehood day on January 21, 2014 turned into a corporation.

On the 42nd statehood day the up-gradation of Agartala Municipal Council into a municipal corporation took effect while 10 Nagar Panchayats including Dharmanagar, Kailasahar, Ambassa, Khowai, Teliamura, Mohanpur, Bishalgarh, Melaghar, Udaipur and Belonia in the sub-divisional towns were promoted as municipal councils.

Official sources said that on the occasion of the statehood day on Tuesday, these urban local bodies have been upgraded, including newer areas to give better services to the people of the state.

On the 42nd statehood day, two new Nagar Panchayats Panisagar and Jirania have also started functioning.

With the up gradation of municipal councils, nagar panchayats, now Tripura have 10 municipal councils, nine nagar panchayats and one municipal corporation.

It may be recalled here that the under the North-Eastern Areas (Reorganization) Act, 1971, Tripura, Manipur and Meghalaya became full-fledged states on Jan 21, 1972.

With a population of around five lakh, the Agartala Municipal Corporation would look after the urban areas of 76 sq km.

Agartala is the second largest city in northeast India after Guwahati in Assam.

The Agartala Municipality was constituted in 1871 during the reign of erstwhile king, Maharaja Chandra Manikya (1862-96).

The first British Political Agent, A.W.B. Power was appointed for princely ruled Tripura in 1871 and become the chairman of the Agartala Municipality.

Tripura merged with the Indian Union Oct 15, 1949.

The state’s Urban Development department sources added that Dr Prafullajit Sinha and Samar Chakraborty, the incumbent chairman and vice-chairman of the Agartala Municipal Council (AMC), would be the first Mayor and Deputy Mayor of the Agartala Municipal Corporation, respectively.

Malaria in Tripura :Expert team arriving on June 24

The central government is sending a four member expert medical team led by regional director (malaria), Satyajit Sen to study the outbreak of malaria epidemic in the state on June 24 said Badal Chowdhury, health minister of Tripura.Addressing a press conference here at secretariat today evening the minister the toll in the outbreak of malaria in state has risen to 28, among the dead 23 are children. He stated that around 1,700 people have fallen ill from malaria and fever in the tribal-dominated mountainous areas of Dhalai, Gomati and South Tripura districts.At least 50 health workers, including 26 ASHA (Accredited social health activists), 13 ICDS (Integrated Child Development Services) and three MPW (Multi-Purpose Workers), have been either suspended or will face punitive action for negligence in work informed the health minister.He said that the minister along with medical experts and doctors visited the malaria-affected areas several times and personally supervised medical measures.A helicopter is on standby to ferry doctors, health staff and patients in an emergency.

Government leaving no stone unturned to fight Malaria :- To fight the malaria menace, 226 health camps have been held across the state. Governmmt is adopting all possible measures to ensure the availability of medicines and arrangement of adequate treatment. Apart from the pediatricians, team of specialists is providing all sorts of services to the affected people in Gandacherra and Chwamanu. A medical team comprising of two doctors and four nurses has already been sent to Chamanu while one pediatrician, one medicine specialist, fourteen nurse and three laboratory technicians have headed for Gandacherra. Moreover, a control room has also been opened at the office of health and family welfare to have a close watch on the entire scenario. The phone number is 0381- 231-5879 and it will operate between 10 am to 7 pm. Meanwhile, according to the directives of health and family welfare minister, state government will bear all the expenses relating to medicines, treatments and transportation expenses of the malaria victims. Adequate medicines and DDT have been sent to the entire state. The field workers are carrying on the tasks of collecting blood slides across the state. Three MPW workers have been temporarily terminated. Twenty five persons have lost their lives till now, due to the recent advent of Malaria in state. Health minister accompanied by other top health officials has today again visited the spots to examine the overall situations.

Anil Sarkar conferred Ambedkar award-2014

Veteran leader and vice-chairman of state’s planning board, Anil Sarkar has been awarded the “ Dr B R Ambedkar socio cultural award-2014” for his contribution to the field of literature, cultural activities and for organizing Dalit movements in Tripura on Jun 02, 2014.

The department for Welfare of Scheduled Caste and OBC today organized the programme of Dr B R Ambedkar memorial award-2014 at Agartala Town Hall.

Earlier, on Sunday afternoon Anil Sarkar during a discussion meet on Dr B R Ambedkar at Agartala Town Hall for celebrating the 124th birth anniversary of Ambedkar said that ‘Ambedkar had tried to form a democratic society free from class divisions and oppression’. He pioneered the process of Dalit emancipation through his revolutionary ideas and thoughts and we can pay real regard to him only by living his ideals, thoughts and concepts’ said Sarkar.

During the award giving ceremony, social worker Sachindra Biswas has been awarded with the “Vidyasagar Socio cultural award-2014” and five successfully qualified candidates of TCS/TPS examination-2013 Rupan Das, Rupanjan Das, Amit Ghosh, Himadri Prasad Das and Kamal Bikash Majumder have been awarded with the “Dr B R Ambedkar Smriti Medha Sammanana-2014”.

Apart from this, seven meritorious SC and OBC students who won merit positions from rank 1st to 10th in Mdhayamik and Higher Secondary examinations during the year 2013 have been awarded with the “Dr B R Ambedkar Swarnapadak-2014” awards.

The “Dr B R Ambedkar memorial award-2013” were also given to hundreds of SC and OBC students across the state from classes Madhayamik to higher secondary level and the students of lower classes who passed their respective final examinations in first division during the year 2013.

During the award giving ceremony, SC Welfare Minister Ratan Bhowmik, OBC Welfare Minister Bijita Nath along with other dignitaries were present in the programme.

India, Bangladesh set up border markets

Work for the setting up of the second of the four proposed 'border haats' (bazaars) along the India-Bangladesh border in Tripura began on Wednesday the 21^st May, 2014.

The work for the first 'border haat' is on in southern Tripura's bordering town Sabroom, 135 km south from Agartala.

Work for infrastructural development of the second border haat has begun on Wednesday at Kasba (25 km west of Agartala) along the India-Bangladesh border. Both India and Bangladesh have allotted some portion of lands for the border haats.

Senior district administration officials of Tripura's Sepahijala district and Bangladesh's Kasba district were present at a ceremony organized for the purpose.

India and Bangladesh have agreed to set up border haats along their border in Tripura, Assam, Mizoram and Meghalaya to boost local trade and economy.

One was set up at Meghalaya's border with Bangladesh in 2012.

The official said: "The Tripura government has proposed to set up four 'Border Haats' along the border with Bangladesh. Both Indian and Bangladesh government have also agreed to this proposal."

India's commerce ministry has been providing Rs. 2-3 crore to develop infrastructure in these border haats.

The haats are to be set up within five km of the international border.

They will sell local agricultural and horticultural products, spices, minor forest products (excluding timber), fresh and dry fish, dairy and poultry products, cottage industry items, wooden furniture, handloom and handicraft items.

Trading in these bazaars would be held once or twice a week, and a spending cap of $50 will be imposed per head.

No local tax will be imposed on the trading. Both Indian and Bangladeshi currencies will be accepted, the official said.

Four north eastern states - Tripura, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Assam - share a 1,880 km border with Bangladesh, while Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh share a 1,640 km unfenced border with Myanmar.

NOTA VOTES IN LS ELECTION

Around 1.2 percent votes of the total electorate base in Tripura Lok Sabha election went to the NOTA option this year, the CEO said. 10,921 votes were cast in the NOTA button in East Tripura constituency, 12,699 votes were cast for NOTA in the West Tripura seat.

Dynamic Naresh Jamatya to replace Jiten in LF cabinet

Young and dynamic Naresh Jamatya who is known for his flair for and skill in all aspects of information technology is all set to replace minister for forest, rural development and industry Jiten Chowdhury in the left front cabinet. Jiten has been elected to the Loksabha from East Tripura constituency and the ministerial slot he held since 1993 fell vacant. According to information emanating from the CP (M) party a final decision has been taken by the party's highest body to include Naresh Jamatya in the cabinet in place of the slot vacated by Jiten Chowdhury.

An MLA for two consecutive terms since 2008 Naresh Jamatya has always been known to be a tech-savvy man with creative ideas. As a student he had studied engineering in Tripura before joining active politics as a member of the CPI(M). Even while being active in politics Janatya has been a contributor of articles in the CPI (M) party organ 'Daily Desher Katha'. He had won his first election as MLA from the Bagma assembly constituency of south Tripura in 2008 and was re-elected in 2013. After Jiten Chowdhury who is also tech-savvy, Naresh Jamatya is regarded as a highly tech-savvy man with deep knowledge of and skill in information technology. He is expected to be sworn in soon.

Tripura teenager in Bangla jail

She left home and country for love but landed in jail instead.

Fifteen – year - old Sumitra of Abhoynagar village under Hrishyamukh area of South Tripura crossed the border to marry the boy she fell in love with and is now in Chittagong Central Jail of Bangladesh for the past six months.

Sumitra’s name has been changed to Fatema Begam after converting to Islam and marrying 22 – year - old Nizamuddin of South Angshapur village under Chhagalnaiya police station in Feni district of Bangladesh in February last year.

Soon after, Bangladesh police arrested her from Nizam’s house for entering into Bangladesh Territory without valid passport and subsequently Sumitra landed in jail.

Sumitra’s village is right at Indo - Bangladesh border and her family has a small plot of farmland near the fencing. She met Nizam here and both worked out their escape plan.

After she was reported missing by her family, the Belonia police station took up the matter with Border Guard of Bangladesh (BGB) and was traced in Nizam’s house on November 16 last year pleading his innocence, Nizam said, “She is now in the jail for illegal entry into Bangladesh and she is mentally weak due to disassociation with the husband and parents.” A team of Bangladeshi NGOs have met her in Chittagong jail and Sumitra’s family has also initiated fresh move to get her back in Tripura.