By Firstdespatch Desk May 28, 2026
Agartala, May 28 (FD) A major push toward inclusive tribal development and technological empowerment was highlighted in Tripura on Thursday as Governor Indrasena Reddy Nallu inaugurated the week-long “Janjatiya Garima Utsav 2026 – Birsa Lives in New Bharat Week” at Pragna Bhawan in Agartala.
Organised by the Tribal Welfare Department of the Government of Tripura, the programme brought together students, youth representatives, tribal community members, and senior officials to celebrate the legacy of tribal icon Bhagwan Birsa Munda and reinforce the state’s commitment to indigenous rights, dignity, and sustainable development.
During the inaugural ceremony held at Hall No. 1 of Pragna Bhawan, the Governor, along with Tribal Welfare Minister Bikash Debbarma and other dignitaries, paid floral tribute to Bhagwan Birsa Munda. Addressing the gathering, the Governor said the state government remains committed to ensuring that every tribal citizen receives rightful dignity, recognition, and equal opportunities in society.
He emphasized that Tripura is focusing on scientific planning and the use of technology to achieve inclusive growth and strengthen welfare initiatives in tribal regions. According to him, the celebration is not merely symbolic but reflects the continuing relevance of Birsa Munda’s ideals in protecting tribal identity, forest rights, and social justice in the 21st century.
A key highlight of the programme was the launch of Northeast India’s first Digital Forest Rights Act (FRA) Atlas and e-pass system, developed with the support of the Tripura Space Application Centre. The Governor described the digital atlas as more than just a mapping tool, calling it a centralized decision-support system designed to improve planning, monitoring, transparency, and data-based governance related to the implementation of the Forest Rights Act at the state, district, sub-division, and village levels.
The Governor also inaugurated the Tribal Development Atlas and released the FRA Atlas booklet prepared by the Tribal Welfare Department. Officials stated that the GIS-based platform has been developed to digitally map and monitor tribal development infrastructure and resources across the state. Several important institutions and facilities have already been geo-tagged under the platform, including Eklavya Model Residential Schools, Ashram schools, district and sub-divisional Tribal Welfare offices, the state headquarters, and synthetic football grounds.
A short documentary showcasing awareness initiatives on the Forest Rights Act and various educational schemes of the Tribal Welfare Department was screened during the event. An interactive session was also organised where the Governor interacted with beneficiaries of the ST Post-Matric Scholarship Scheme.
Speaking at the event, Tribal Welfare Minister Bikash Debbarma said the department has been continuously working for the welfare and holistic development of tribal communities, particularly in remote areas. He noted that several initiatives focusing on education and skill development are being implemented to accelerate socio-economic progress in tribal regions.
In a statement following the programme, the Minister expressed gratitude to the Governor and other dignitaries for attending the event and appreciated the enthusiastic participation of students and tribal youth. He described the launch of the FRA Atlas as a significant step toward strengthening outreach and ensuring inclusive development for forest-dwelling families under the vision of “Sabse Door, Sabse Pehle – Jan Bhagidari Abhiyan.”
The programme was also attended by Tribal Welfare Department Secretary Dr. K. Sashi Kumar, Governor’s Secretary U.K. Chakma, and Tribal Welfare Director Subhashish Das, among other officials and guests. FD SB