The government is diligently focused on implementing various schemes introduced by both the central and state government to promote the socio-economic development of rural communities, said Chief Minister of Tripura Dr Manik Saha while addressing a State-Level Review Meeting cum Workshop held at Pragna Bhawan in Agartala on Wednesday (May 31).
In his speech at the workshop, the Chief Minister highlighted the instrumental role played by the Act East Policy in the development of the North Eastern region.
He commended Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s dedication to leading the North Eastern states towards a path of progress through the implementation of this policy. Tripura, too, has greatly benefited from this policy.
Dr Saha emphasized the significant role that officials and employees from different levels of the Rural Development department have in this endeavor.
The review meeting primarily centred on assessing the current status and progress of various Rural Development (RD) schemes.
The workshop witnessed the presence of District Magistrates from different districts of the state, along with officials from the Rural Development department. The Chief Minister emphasized the department’s crucial role in achieving holistic development in rural areas.
He reiterated the Prime Minister’s stance that a state cannot progress without the simultaneous development of its rural areas.
The Prime Minister has consistently emphasized the importance of effectively utilizing every allocated amount for rural development, and the state government is committed to following his lead in order to accomplish this shared goal.
The Chief Minister acknowledged the dedicated efforts of department officials in ensuring that people living in rural areas can access the benefits of various central schemes.
As a result, Tripura currently stands in a commendable position among other states in the successful implementation of schemes such as Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Gramin). This achievement is a matter of pride for the state.
Regarding the progress of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Gramin), the Chief Minister provided insightful statistics.
Prior to 2018, 24,989 houses were sanctioned under the scheme. In the financial years 2018-19 and 2019-20, the state received grants for 28,838 houses.
Subsequently, due to the sincere efforts of the state government, a remarkable 183,590 houses were sanctioned in the financial year 2020-21. Additionally, 44,921 houses were granted in the financial year 2021-22.
Furthermore, on May 30, the central government sanctioned an additional 130,695 houses for the state in the current financial year.
The Chief Minister attributed these accomplishments to the collaborative efforts of the state and central governments, underscoring the benefits of a “double engine” government.
During the program, Chief Secretary J. K. Sinha expressed his appreciation for the sincere efforts of the RD department in driving rural development.
As a result, Tripura is recognized for its successful implementation of various central schemes, including Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana and Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), both at a national level and on different occasions by the Union Minister of Rural Development. Secretary of the RD department, Dr. Debashish Bose, also delivered a speech during the event.
Notable dignitaries in attendance included the CEO of TRLM, Prasad Rao, and Additional Secretary of the RD department, Arun Kumar Roy.