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Tripura announces Bhagwan Birsa Munda Tournament with slogan ‘football is game, drugs are shame’

The Tripura government’s new initiative aims to combat drug addiction and promote sports among tribal youth.

Tribal Affairs Minister Bikash Debbarma said, “This tournament is being organised to stop tribal youths from going wayward, especially since our government is working with the slogan ‘nashamukt Tripura’. (Image: X/@bikashdbbjp)

To promote sports, curb drug addiction and acknowledge tribals’ contributions to the nation, the Tripura government on Tuesday announced the Bhagwan Birsa Munda Football Tournament 2025, an inter-hostel competition with the slogan “football is game, drugs are shame”.

Speaking to reporters, Tribal Affairs Minister Bikash Debbarma said, “This tournament is being organised to stop tribal youths from going wayward, especially since our government is working with the slogan ‘nashamukt Tripura’. A large number of tribal youths, particularly young adults, are consuming illegal drugs. This tournament aims to keep them away from this menace.”

The tournament, which will run from Wednesday to Saturday, will feature 16 teams, eight each of boys and girls. Champions from different districts of the state will also participate.

The tournament offers a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh and a trophy for the champions in both boys and girls categories, while the first and second runners-up will receive Rs 75,000 and Rs 50,000, respectively. A cash prize of Rs 25,000 will be awarded for fair play, along with awards for the best player, best scorer and best goalkeeper.

Debbarma said such tournaments would help talents flourish and motivate youngsters to lead healthy lives. “We believe these awards and prizes will encourage tribal youths to enhance their natural expertise and interest in sports,” the minister said.

The battle against illegal drugs was one of the first steps taken by the BJP government after coming to power in 2018, and drug-free Tripura was a major poll promise of the saffron party.

Chief Minister Manik Saha had said Tripura was being used as a corridor, along with other northeastern states such as Mizoram and Assam, to smuggle drugs from Myanmar to Bangladesh.

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During a recent visit to Tripura, Union Home Minister Amit Shah urged chief ministers of all the Northeast states to take strict action against the drug menace in the region.

🏆⚽ Bhagwan Birsa Munda Football Tournament 2025 ⚽🏆
Organized by Tribal Welfare Department, Government of Tripura.
Let’s celebrate the spirit of football and sportsmanship! 🏆⚽#FootballIsGameDrugsAreShame @narendramodi @DrManikSaha2 @TribalAffairsIn @bikashdbbjp pic.twitter.com/UjzwL9SG5Q

— Tribal Welfare Department, Govt. of Tripura (@twdtripura) January 31, 2025

Saha had also said that 150-200 new HIV cases were reported each month in Tripura, particularly among youngsters prone to drug abuse.

The chief minister recently said in the Assembly that 512 AIDS-related deaths were recorded between 2015 and 2024. The state had 7,707 AIDS patients in 2021—a figure that rose to 8,943 in 2022 and further to 10,126 in 2023, he said citing data from the National AIDS Control Organisation.

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