Tripura CM Dr. Manik Saha announced plans to reduce the DA gap for state employees and hinted at a new hike before Durga Puja. He also declared that the state government will set up a Women’s University to empower girls while highlighting education reforms during Teachers’ Day celebrations in Agartala.
Tripura Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha has hinted that a much-anticipated hike in Dearness Allowance (DA) for state government employees may be announced soon, as part of the government’s ongoing efforts to reduce the gap with central government employees. The announcement came while addressing the 64th Teachers’ Day celebrations at Rabindra Satabarshiki Bhavan in Agartala on Friday.
Speaking at the event, Dr. Saha said that his government has already made significant progress in bridging the DA and DR (Dearness Relief) gap, raising it by 29 percent in the past, bringing the total to 32 percent. “Earlier, employees had to take to the streets and join protest rallies for DA and DR. However, we have given 29 percent, and now the total stands at 32 percent. In the coming days, we are trying to reduce the gap with the Centre,” the Chief Minister stated.
Sources within the administration have also indicated that the announcement of a fresh DA hike could be made anytime before Durga Puja this year, providing relief to thousands of employees across the state.
Women’s University to be Established in Tripura
In another significant announcement, Dr. Saha revealed that the state government is actively working on the establishment of a Women’s University in Tripura. He emphasized that empowering women through education is a priority of his administration.
Highlighting existing initiatives, he mentioned that under the Mukhyamantri Kanya Atmanirbhar Yojana, female students have already been provided scooters to encourage them to pursue higher education. Additionally, fees for girl students in government colleges have been waived. “We must work for the progress of girls. For that, we are planning to set up a Women’s University. Several universities have also expressed interest in opening campuses in Tripura as peace prevails here. We want to develop Tripura into an education hub,” Dr. Saha said.
The Chief Minister also informed that the state has seen substantial growth in higher education opportunities, with three new government colleges recently opened. Furthermore, the number of MBBS seats has increased, and new Dental and Nursing colleges have been established to strengthen medical education in the state.
Teachers as Nation Builders
While paying tribute to the teaching community on Teachers’ Day, Dr. Saha praised the dedication and sacrifice of educators, describing them as the “roots of a tree” who nurture future generations.
“You may go into other professions for money, but teachers have chosen teaching out of passion and responsibility. Teachers are inventors who instill knowledge, values, and wisdom in students. They make students’ lives shine. They are the backbone of a nation,” he said.
The Chief Minister also noted that the National Education Policy (NEP) introduced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been implemented in Tripura, with several new initiatives being rolled out to strengthen the state’s education sector. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to transparency in recruitment, ensuring that the best teachers are appointed to shape the future of the state.
Recognition of Eminent Personalities
On this occasion, Dr. Saha also conferred prestigious awards on eminent personalities for their contributions in various fields:
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Pandit Iswar Chandra Vidyasagar Samman to Dr. Atul Debbarma, Eminent Educationist
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Dr. Shyamaprasad Mukherjee Samman to Samir Chakraborty, Eminent Social Worker
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Maharani Tulsibati Samman to Pranati Debbarma, Headmistress of D.C. Para Hemanta Smriti Vidyalaya
The event witnessed the presence of several distinguished dignitaries, including former Vice-Chancellor of Tripura University and Padma Shri awardee Dr. Arunoday Saha, Special Secretary of the Education Department Raval Hemendra Kumar, Director of Higher Education Animesh Debbarma, Director of SCERT L. Darlong, Director of Kokborok and Other Languages Department Ananda Hari Jamatia, and Director of Education N.C. Sharma.
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The celebrations underscored the government’s focus on education reforms, women empowerment, and employee welfare, signalling a forward-looking approach in shaping Tripura’s socio-economic development.
