AGARTALA: Moving a long struggle for indigenous rights closer to a resolution, the Tripura government issued formal orders this week to build dedicated committees for land rights and education in the tribal council.
The orders, dated November 6, 2026, represent the first major administrative actions to execute the promises of the Tiprasa Accord. Two separate joint committees have been established by the Revenue Department and the Education Department to resolve long-standing grievances in the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC).
To tackle the complex issue of indigenous land ownership, the Revenue Department notified the creation of an eight-member committee led by the Secretary of the Tribal Welfare Department. It features key officials from both the state government and the TTAADC, including the Home Secretary, Revenue Secretary, and the Principal Officer for Land Records and Settlements in the TTAADC.
TIPRA Motha founder Pradyot Bikram Manikya Debbarma welcomed the decision online, stating that the joint committee will ensure all stakeholders are consulted. During a live video address, he set a strict timeline. “A new committee is being formed for land rights which will give its report within one month,” he announced. Once the report is ready, Debbarma said the matter will be pushed forward to the central government.
“We will take that report to the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, to ensure the Tiprasa people get their rights,” he stated. He repeatedly assured the public that securing tribal land rights is about safeguarding their future, noting, “The rights of the general community living in the ADC must not be taken away”.
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On the education front, the state government formed a seven-member panel convened by the Secretary of the School Education Department. According to the official order, the committee will examine issues related to merging schools with very low student enrollment into modern, high-quality residential schools, while also handling teacher placement.
Debbarma elaborated in his video address that these residential schools will offer strong infrastructure. “We agreed that we need to build quality residential schools where we can impart good quality education in English, Kokborok, and Hindi,” he said.
Addressing his supporters online, Debbarma took a firm stance against political negativity. “There are many detractors in life who will always find faults, no matter how much good you do,” he said, adding that he chooses to ignore them to focus on development. “I feel that I must lead my country, my state, and our Tiprasa people, for whom I have given my time, blood, and sweat, on the path of development,” he affirmed.
He urged his viewers to stop dividing the world based on politics and to overcome internal suspicions. “If we stay united, we will win. If we do politics and divide ourselves in the name of party flags, we will get nothing,” he warned.
Pointing out that progress requires harmony, he asked the community to stay united to ensure that development reaches every household. “Thansa means unity, not just in politics, but in society, in friendship, and in us being brothers and sisters,” he concluded.
