Books will be written on what PM Modi achieved after coming to power in 2014: Tripura CM Manik Saha

“Unlike other prime ministers, Narendra Modi-ji brought development in different sectors. Books will be written, research will be done on what prime ministers who were in power before 2014 had done and what Modi-ji did after coming to power in 2014,” CM Saha said during an interactive session at Rabindra Satabarshiki Bhawan in Agartala.

He further said the Agartala-Akhaura railway link is expected to start functioning this year. The work on the Tripura part is over while some work on the Bangladesh side is yet to be completed.

“Earlier, it was said that no industry could be set up in Tripura because there was a connectivity problem. Now, the state has brought development in the industries and commerce sector,” the CM said. The annual trade between Tripura and Bangladesh has increased from Rs 390.68 crore in 2017-18 to Rs 758.9 crore in 2022-23, he added.

Speaking about financial assistance to farmers, Saha said the government provided financial assistance to over 2.47 lakh farmers under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Yojana. The state spent Rs 553 crore on the scheme. The CM added that the average monthly income for farmers has risen to Rs 13,590 in 2022 from Rs 6,080 in 2017-18. Nearly 10.8 lakh farmers were brought under the Fasal Bima Yojana and 3.7 lakh farmers have been given loans through the Kisan credit card, Saha claimed. “The state government also brought four lakh women into self-help groups, and provided free bicycles to Class 9 girl students,” Saha said.

Speaking about the tribals, he said the state introduced the Right to Forest Act to allow the indigenous population to cultivate. He said 17 Eklavya schools will be set up in tribal-dominated areas, of which two schools have already started functioning. The state also introduced Kokborok, the lingua franca of the indigenous people in the state, as a special subject in 1,400 schools.

“After we came to power, we renamed Agartala airport after Maharaja Bir Bikram Kishore Manikya. Later, we upgraded the airport to international standards,” Saha said.