Tipra Motha Party Founder, Pradyot Kishore Manikya Debbarma, has written to Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha, seeking his assistance in addressing longstanding issues in the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC).
Debbarma stated that these problems stem from years of mismanagement and poor governance under the previous administration.
In his letter, Debbarma highlighted that the TIPRA Motha Party took charge of the TTAADC after nearly two decades of Communist rule. As Chairman of the Advisory and Administrative Reforms Committee (AARC), he has worked to correct deep-rooted inefficiencies.
However, he pointed out that many of the issues in governance today are a result of ad hoc recruitment practices from the past.
“During my tenure, I have seen that many officials were hired without following standard procedures, often through walk-in interviews,” Debbarma wrote.
“This has created significant challenges for our indigenous communities, including limited employment opportunities, poor infrastructure, inadequate healthcare, and education. All these are worsened by a lack of qualified staff to deliver essential services effectively”, he said.
Debbarma further noted that while the Communist government is no longer in power, its administrative legacy continues to impact governance in the TTAADC.
He praised the current administration for eliminating practices such as one-time relaxation promotions and reducing the re-employment of retired staff. However, he expressed concern that political affiliations still sometimes trump merit in hiring processes.
“Our talented young people often have to seek jobs elsewhere or are left disillusioned by the lack of opportunities. It is disappointing to see that, in some cases, individuals secure positions based on party loyalty rather than qualifications,” Debbarma added.
He urged the Chief Minister to support efforts within the TTAADC to prioritize merit over mediocrity.
He added, “We must empower our communities with talent and vision. Some schools in our region are either abandoned or have no students due to inconsistent education quality. To give hope to the next generation, we need to work on a comprehensive plan in partnership with the TTAADC and present it to the central government.”
Debbarma appealed to Dr. Saha to collaborate in reforming a system that has long denied jobs to deserving indigenous people because of their political affiliations. “The situation demands a solution, and through joint efforts, we can create more opportunities for our youth and inspire a sense of aspiration and hope,” he stated.