People's Democracy

Inception Of Two New Sub-Divisions Amidst Massive Applause

Haripada Das

AS a pro-people re-organisation of administrative units, two more sub-divisions emerged in the state of Tripura fulfilling long cherished aspirations of the people of respective areas. While new Teliamura sub-division has been created bifurcating Khowai sub-division in West Tripura which was inaugurated on April 11, 2006 the Santirbazar sub-division has come into being by splitting the Belonia sub-division which started its journey on April 12, 2006.

In the inaugural ceremony of both the sub-divisions, thousands of enthusiastic people -- young and old, men and women, cutting across caste and creed, tribals and nontribals -- thronged into the venues of inaugural ceremonies to witness fulfillment of their long-aspired demand. In both the functions, chief minister Manik Sarkar, education minister Keshab Majumder, ministers and MLAs representing the concerned sub-divisions, state chief secretary R K Mathur, ADC members, zilla parishad members and nagar panchayat authorities of the respective areas were present.

After formal inauguration of the sub-divisions, chief minister and other ministers addressed the huge gatherings. Manik Sarkar termed both the sub-divisions as new born babies which deserve sincere care of all concerned for their smooth growing up. Creation of these new sub-divisions is the reflection of people’s aspiration being met and credit goes to the politically conscious democratic-minded people of Tripura. "We are the instrument of implementation of the people’s aspiration. We do it through decentralisation of power and administration. The main objective of the Left Front government is to render welfare to all sections of the people, uplifting the downtrodden to a minimum scale", said the chief minister.

Explaining the autocratic nature of the previous Congress regimes, Manik Sarkar said that the Congress hardly had any trust on the people, refusing to conduct elections to any elected bodies like gram panchayat, Agartala municipality, nagar panchayats, etc. At present, many toiling people of lower strata belonging to SC, ST, OBC, minorities are at the helm of steering the gram panchayat, panchayat samities, zilla parishad, village committees, Agartala municipal council and nagar panchayats. He said these bodies have now been freed from vested interests. Making it clear that the Left Front is not in favour of imposing development plans from above, he said these grassroots-level elected bodies must take lead in formulating such plans.

Chief guest of the programme at Santirbazar, finance minister Badal Chowdhury in his address said the LF aim is to bring forth this tiny state as one of the developed states in the country and most advanced in the North East region.

Education minister Keshab Majumder called upon the people to come forward with all out cooperation till the new-born Sub-Divisions attain full fledged efficiency to render service to the people.