AGARTALA: Manik Sarkar is running for the fourth successive term as the chief minister of one of the poorest states in the country. His frustration is aimed at the Centre for not being "generous" to Tripura.
"Ours is a poor state, but the Centre cannot shirk away from its responsibilities. The very concept of Centre's contribution is flawed. It is the responsibility of the Centre under the quasi-federal structure to aid every state. The Centre is not generous to us. I don't know the reason," Sarkar told TOI on Tuesday.
The 64-year-old CPM leader, who doesn't own a house or a car and is probably the poorest chief minister in the country, vows to continue his struggle for the state's development. He intends to make Tripura a self-sufficient economy by promoting industry and setting up markets.
Sarkar, who hopes to retain power this time also, has chalked out a roadmap for economic development of the state in the next five years. "My approach in the next five years would be to get investors to set up units based on raw materials available here as well as to set up markets for the products in the state. This will also generate employment," Sarkar said.
He finds solace in the fact that Tripura, though financially weak, is financially disciplined. Sarkar said, "Our economy may be weak but we have high standard of financial discipline. Our per capita income at current prices in the 10th plan was Rs 29,081, which increased to Rs 50,000 in 2011-12."
Tripura has surplus power, but no industries. It has an abundant reserve of natural gas that has not been tapped, but there aren't enough jobs. "Our state has surplus power, but the Centre has failed to evacuate the excess power. We have proposed selling power from our share to Bangladesh, which is deficit in power. The Centre has not responded to our proposal yet for reasons best known to it," Sarkar said.
Tripura is landlocked by Bangladesh on three fronts and by Mizoram and a part of Assam on the eastern boundary. More than 50% of the state's population depends on agriculture. According to the state economic review 2010-11, it is the second largest producer of natural rubber after Kerala.
For a long time, Tripura was dogged by militancy. "The militants have been isolated. They do not have any hideouts within the state now," he said.
Centre is not generous to us, Tripura CM says
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Centre is not generous to us, Tripura CM says
