Senior leaders of the Gana Mukti Parishad, the tribal front of the CPI(M), led by Member of Parliament Jitendra Chouhdury on Saturday met Chief Minister Biplab Deb to place demands concerning socio and economic issues of the tribal community in Tripura.
The delegation submitted a memorandum complaining about the poverty and starvation situation allegedly prevailing in the hills and the interior areas of the State. The memorandum said that the indigenous population was passing through a tough time in the absence of cash or food. It also spoke about the displacement of hunger stricken tribals to various places, including Bangladesh.
Two former Ministers in the earlier CPI(M)-led Left front government Naresh Jamatia and Pranab Debbarma were also present in meeting. They demanded that the Chief Minister should implement the promises for tribals made in the vision document of the BJP ahead of Assembly election held in February. Mr. Choudhury alleged that the stoppage of the MGNREGA funds had further “aggravated” the situation.
Deputy Chief Minister Jishnu Debbarman said the allegations were politically motivated. He claimed that man days under MGNREGA had been increased to support poor tribal families.
On the migration issue, he said the government had checked the matter with appropriate agencies, but fount it to be incorrect. “Indigenous people are better taken care of now ...why should they leave?” he said.
