Agartala: Amid growing concerns from the indigenous Tiprasa people, the Government of Tripura and IHCL-Taj (Tata Group) have signed an MoU to set up a hotel at Agartala’s historic Pushpabanta Palace with added steps for local empowerment.
Following the MoU, Tripura’s Royal Scion and Founder of the TIPRA Motha Party Pradyot Bikram Manikya Debbarma stated that the move came after concerns were raised regarding the palace’s handover and its potential impact on the Tiprasa people’s heritage.
“I expressed my deep concerns about the matter, and following protests from various socio-political organisations and individuals, the issue was taken up seriously by all concerned parties, including the state government and IHCL-Taj,” said Pradyot.
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Following discussions with the Tripura Chief Minister Prof. (Dr.) Manik Saha and Tata Group representatives, an agreement was reached to address these concerns. Pradyot informed that the MoU includes provisions to restore the palace’s heritage, ensure cultural representation, and introduce initiatives to empower the Tiprasa people.
“The hotel will retain its original name and the heritage building will be restored,” Pradyot stated. He added that the history, culture, and traditions of the indigenous Tiprasa people would be prominently displayed to raise awareness among locals and visitors. “Consultation will take place with the Royal Family to ensure that the history and traditions are accurately represented,” he added.
Pradyot also highlighted that IHCL-Taj had acknowledged and agreed to honour Article III of the Tripura Merger Agreement, which references the palace’s status as the property of the Maharaja of Tripura.
In addition to the hotel project, Pradyot mentioned that a Hospitality Skill Development Centre of Excellence for Indigenous Tribal Youth would be set up at Khumulwng with a budget of Rs. 13 crore. “About 200 trained youth will be employed at the Taj Pushpabanta Palace Hotel in Agartala, while several others will get opportunities to work at other Taj properties outside the state,” he said.
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Furthermore, seven Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) under TTAADC will be upgraded in collaboration with Tata Technologies to establish Centres of Excellence. “This initiative will bridge skill gaps and prepare trainees for careers in emerging industries,” Pradyot said, adding that the Tata Group would invest over Rs. 35 crore in each ITI, with a total investment of Rs. 245 crore. “These seven ITIs will train over 2,000 youth annually, offering placement opportunities in multinational companies,” he added.
Pradyot credited the TIPRA Motha, Youth TIPRA Federation (YTF), TIPRA Women Federation (TWF), and TIPRA Indigenous Students Federation (TISF) for standing firm on these concerns. He also thanked the Twipra Students Federation (TSF) for bringing the issue to the forefront.
“We are not against development, but the sentiments of the indigenous tribal Tiprasas must be respected,” Pradyot said. He added that their commitment is to ensure development takes place outside Agartala, particularly in TTAADC areas. “The upgradation of ITIs and the establishment of the Hospitality Skill Development Centre are significant steps in this direction,” he said, inviting other business groups to take up developmental projects in TTAADC areas.
