In a candid revelation, former advisor to the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC), Captain G.S. Rathee, has accused the ADC administration of obstructing the development of indigenous communities in Tripura. Captain Rathee declared his intention to collaborate with the Tripura Rehabilitation Plantation Corporation (TRPC) to advance the socio-economic well-being of the tribal population in the state.
Captain Rathee – who resigned from the position of the TTAADC advisor on August 25 last, recently met with Patal Kanya Jamatia, the Chairman of TRPC, to discuss strategies aimed at transforming TRPC into the most profitable Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) in the state within the next four years.
Reflecting on his tenure as an advisor to the TTAADC administration, Captain Rathee lamented facing numerous obstacles while striving to foster the development of Autonomous District Councils (ADCs) and enhance the socio-economic status of tribal communities. He asserted that the ADC administration exhibited reluctance towards developmental endeavors.
Captain Rathee remarked, “India’s second-largest international skill center was slated to be established within the ADC, but these plans remained confined to paperwork, as the ADC administration appeared to be engaging in partisan and politically tinged activities in the realm of development.”
He continued, “I encountered restrictions from elected representatives and government officials when attempting to initiate development projects within the ADC. In my personal capacity, I initiated projects worth approximately Rs. 1100 crore to bolster ADC development by involving private partners, but unfortunately, these efforts were stifled by the relevant administration.”
Captain Rathee emphasized, “At a time when the ADC administration was vocal about inadequate funds from the Central and state governments, they exhibited a lack of interest in welcoming private partners eager to invest in ADC development.”
Despite these challenges, Captain Rathee pledged to collaborate with the TRPC to uplift indigenous tribes in the state. He expressed his commitment to making TRPC a profitable PSU within the next four years.
Chairman Patal Kanya Jamatia of TRPC expressed her agreement to join forces with Captain Rathee to advance tribal development in the state. She stated, “The Tripura government is making every effort to establish a permanent income source for tribal families in the state. The government is dedicated to building ‘Ek Tripura Srestha Tripura’ (One Tripura, Best Tripura).”
She added, “The government’s focus is on improving the socio-economic status of indigenous tribes, enabling them to become self-reliant and skilled, which will contribute to the overall prosperity of the state.”
