IN a bid to forge a sincere and sensible alternative to the diabolic and devastating job-killing policy of the centre, Tripura chief minister Manik Sarkar inaugurated on July 19 the state government’s own Swablamban (self-reliance) project, designed to enable the unemployed to get self-reliant. By handing over to 15 young carpenters the necessary papers and tickets for their skill development in Kerala, he opened a new horizon towards self-employment for Tripura’s unemployed youth.

At the outset of the inaugural function in the packed Rabindra Bhavan auditorium of Agartala, the Tripura government’s chief secretary gave a detailed description of the project. He said it is designed to extend all sorts of assistance, minus red tape, towards creating professionalism among the enterprising and activity-oriented youth of the state, attaching utmost importance to production of commodities with locally available raw materials. Besides a state level committee in this regard, there will also be district level committees to select the beneficiaries. These committees will include banks’ representatives for expeditious grant of bank loans to the sanctioned projects under the scheme. Promptness and smoothness will be the benchmark of the scheme.

The function was presided over by Tripura’s handloom and handicrafts minister, Ramendra Debnath.

Addressing the inaugural function, Manik Sarkar lashed out at the job-killing policy of the centre and underscored the upstream endeavour of the Left Front government to protect the common people’s interest from this diabolic and devastating policy. He said the state government had appealed to the centre to either refute with reasons the justifiability of this alternative programme of the state, or provide unstinted assistance to it. Presenting the pros and cons of this programme, he remarked that it is designed to encourage the hopeless and inspire the helpless in the state. He also referred to the emphasis the state government lays on agriculture sector, which will also play a vital role in increasing the marketability of the manufactured goods. He said Swablamban will be an open scheme, unfettered by any sorts of quota, monetary limit or requisite educational qualification. He appealed to all sections, specially the NGOs, to come forward with dedication to make the most of this people’s own scheme.

Agriculture minister Ashore Debbarma and education minister Anil Sarkar asked all concerned to take up this scheme and make it a success, as a bold challenge of a state with meagre means to the centre’s policy. Several other ministers of Tripura were also present on the occasion. (INN)