Tripura rules out direct funding of TTAADC

Agartala, Aug 7 (UNI) The Tripura Government has ruled out possibility of direct funding of the state's lone Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) to speed up development in the tribal dominated areas.

Reiterating the Left Front government's stand on the issue, Tribal Welfare Minister Jitendra Choudhury said the government would not support the demand for direct funding to the TTAADC. ''Budgetary and other Central Government's allocation must be released to the tribal council through the state government,'' he said. He further added that the state government was making efforts to revive the financial condition of the Council.

The minister also said the state governent had commitment towards the people living in the tribal council. ''The proposal for direct funding would not serve the purpose of making the tribal areas as developed as they think,'' he added.

Giving details about the government's effort for infrastructure development in the autonomous council, he said several schemes, including better road connectivily, expansion of drinking water and health care, are being initiated. He added that the government favoured handing over more power to the TTAADC. ''In this regard the primary education system has already been handed over to the tribal council. Besides, some more powers will be given to the council in order to empower it to fulfil the aspirations of the indigenous people,'' added Mr. Choudhury.

Incidentally, some political parties, which are fully dependent on the tribal vote bank, have placed their demands before the Centre for direct funding of the TTAADC.

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