Tata Trusts to support Tripura in skill development, raise people's livelihood

Tata trusts would support the Tripura government to raise the livelihood of the people in the fisheries, animal resources and dairy development sectors, besides aiding skill development of unemployed youths, Tata Trusts chairman Ratan Tata said here Thursday after signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the state government.

"Tata trusts would help Tripura in a long-term perspective to develop the state and economy of its people. We would take steps whatever possible for us to increase the livelihood of the people of the state," Tata told reporters.

"Two industrial training institutes (ITI) would be developed as centers of excellence in automobile engineering and food processing. Of the two ITIs, one will be at Ambassa (in northern Tripura) and another at Agartala."

He said that the Tata Trusts has already set up an office in Agartala to work out community development in Tripura.

Accompanied by Chief Minister Manik Sarkar, Tata said that the Tripura government and the Tata Trusts jointly intends to implement interventions in the thematic areas of dairy development, fisheries, skill development, education, nutrition and health for improveing the quality of life of the state's people.

"The dairy development initiative would focus on promoting dairying as a viable livelihood option and strengthening the livelihood of small and marginal farmers," Tata said without elaborating.

"If necessary we would train people of Tripura in some specific sectors from abroad also," he added.

A release issued by the Tata Trusts said that the Tripura government would facilitate support in various activities through its schemes in animal husbandry, fisheries, watershed and tribal area development, border area development programme, skill development, education and health as mutually agreed upon.

"For the comprehensive micronutrient and healthcare programme, the state government would facilitate support from various departments like Social Welfare and Social Education, Health, Food and Civil Supplies," it said.

A steering committee would be the guiding force for implementing these joint programmes and would comprise representatives from the Tripura government and Tata Trusts.

The release said that a comprehensive multi-thematic intervention has been designed for the overall development of a few blocks in the state.

"Tata Trusts has also signed an agreement with the Department of Fisheries, Industries and Commerce, Education and the Health and family welfare to broaden the scope and implementation of strategies in all these areas," the release added.

Tata Trusts are amongst India's oldest, non-sectarian philanthropic organisations that work in several areas of community development.

A Tata Trusts spokesman said that similar socio-economic and livelihood schemes were undertaken in joint initiatives with the state governments of Assam, Manipur, Mizoram and Nagaland.