Rural areas in Tripura reaps peace dividend

Development work has gained momentum in rural areas of Tripura, where people have access to better facilities. Change is clearly visible in Anandanagar village in West Tripura district.

Situated under the foothills of Baramura hills, Anandanagar village is mostly inhabited by tribals. Once a hotbed for militants, the village was least developed with no 'pucca' roads, education and health facilities.

The things are no longer the same. With a decline in militant activities in recent years, the village has seen rapid development.

The road infrastructure has also improved with the implementation of various government-run schemes.

"Earlier, there were no pucca roads. Now, we have good roads and bridges. Earlier it was difficult to transport a patient to hospital, but now, the vehicles go up to our house," said a villager, Kamal Debbarma.

The village has access to regular supply of electricity and children can study at nights, watch television and do other household chores.

With support from various projects like Integrated Tribal Development Project under the Tribal Development Fund provided by NABARD or the Forest Right Act which has provided them with land, the villagers are growing various crops. The villagers, who were earlier engaged in traditional farming, have taken up progressive farming like horticulture and pig rearing.

'I was provided 40 banana plants, 20 Amrapali mango saplings and papaya plants to grow in the forest land. We were also provided money for fencing to protect the orchards. After three months of plantation we have started producing bananas. This has been a great help for the poor farmers," said banana orchard owner, Sachindra Debbarma.

The classrooms in the village school, that once used to be empty, have full attendance. Under the Centre's 'Sarva Shiksha Abhiyaan' scheme the school infrastructure has been upgraded and students get free mid-day meal, books and stationery.

"We get free dress, shoes, books and meal from school. I am very happy as teaching has improved and we are taught properly," said a student, Babulal Debbarma.

The village now also has a health care facility where they get free treatment and medicines.

"We have a dispensary in the village and there is no need to go to the city. We get free treatment and medicines," said a patient, Sabita Debbarma.

The transformation in Tripura's Anandanagar village has been possible with the decline in militancy. Other villages in the north-east can also reap the dividend by rejecting violence.