Agartala, Sept 13: In response to serious corruption allegations raised by Congress MLA Sudip Roy Barman concerning the Tripura Rural Economic Growth and Service Delivery Project (TRESP), the state government has come out with a statement asserting the transparency of the project’s implementation.
During a press briefing held at the Secretariat on Friday, Brijesh Pandey, Secretary of Tribal Welfare, outlined the project's goals and its significance in improving the livelihoods and socio-economic status of Tribal communities across Tripura. With the support of the World Bank, the Tribal Welfare department has been spearheading the TRESP initiative.
The project, launched on March 20, 2024, targets 23 tribal-dominated blocks, including aspirational regions, across eight districts in the state. The total budget for the initiative is Rs. 1,400 crore, with 80% of the funding provided by the World Bank and 20% by the state government. The collaboration between the Government of Tripura, the Government of India, and the World Bank aims to sustain the program over the next six years.
Pandey provided details on the areas set to benefit from the project, listing blocks such as Damcherra, Jampui Hills, Manu, and Pecharthal among others. The implementation of the project will involve several departments, including Public Works, Secondary Education, Fisheries, and Agriculture, with the Tribal Welfare Department serving as the nodal authority.
The project is structured around three core objectives: enhancing tribal livelihoods, improving the quality of education in tribal areas, and developing infrastructure such as roads. Rs. 350.49 crore has been earmarked for livelihood improvement, Rs. 348.84 crore for education, and Rs. 500.04 crore for infrastructure development. An additional Rs. 200.63 crore is allocated for project management, training, capacity building, and service delivery.
Subhasish Das, Director of the Tribal Welfare Department, also provided updates on the project's progress, with Joint Director V. Darlong in attendance at the press conference.
The state government emphasized that the project is being executed transparently and it aims to uplift tribal communities across the state.