AGARTALA: After Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced a Rs 1,300 crore package for the socio-economic development of the tribal areas of Tripura, the Deputy Chief Minister of the north-eastern state, Jishnu Dev Varma, on Saturday termed the announcement as as a historic moment for the welfare of the tribal people. Tribals constitute one third of Tripura's four million population.
Nirmala Sitharaman, who came to Tripura on Friday on a two-day visit and inaugurated 12 developmental projects, including few externally-aided projects (EAPs) worth around Rs 8,000 crore, promised to grant more EAPs to the State.
Dev Varma, who also holds the finance portfolio, said, "The announcement of the financial package by the Finance Minister would be considered as a historic moment in the welfare of the tribal people in the state, as it is the biggest package announced by the Central Government so far for the socio-economic development of the tribals."
Dev Varma also said that on the request of the State Government, the Punjab National Bank had approved a top up loan of Rs 70,000 for each beneficiary of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Grameen). He said the Rs 1,300 crore package would lead to infrastructure development in schools, access to quality education for the children, and last mile connectivity, so that each tribal family had a road in front of their house. IANS
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