CPI(M) claims poverty-stricken people are leaving Tripura to earn a living

CPI(M) has alleged that nearly two lakh men, mostly youths, have left Tripura for different states to earn a living for their families. The party said the tall claims of the BJP of development and empowerment fall flat as the situation on the ground is dismal.

Tripura State secretary and Leader of the Opposition, Jitendra Chowdhury, made the allegations at a press conference after the completion of the two-day crucial meeting of the CPI(M) on Friday. CPI(M) General Secretary M.A. Baby, Politburo Members Mohammad Salim and former Chief Minister Manik Sarkar attended the meeting.

Mr. Chowdhury said party delegates from Kanchanpur, Longtharai Valley and Ganda Twisa subdivisions detailed the exodus of people suffering from extreme poverty and lack of work. He said male family members of interior areas of these subdivisions have gone to Mizoram and Assam to search for work.

He claimed nearly two lakh people have left the State under compulsion as there is no way to earn in the State. He alleged that work under the VB–G RAM G, the new version of MGNREGA, are visibly missing, though some are distributed on the basis of affiliation to the ruling party.

Mr. Chowdhury said the State committee meeting also reviewed policies of the Central and State governments that have largely affected both organised and unorganised workers in the country. He said the party would undertake a series of protest programmes in the state from the first week of July to focus on financial constraints and the job crisis of people in the State.

The CPI(M) State secretary said the meeting extensively discussed the Special Intensive Revision or the SIR, the process of which has been underway in Tripura. He said the electoral roll revision may not be prevented, but the left party would make sure that people are not harassed and discriminated against by the exercise.

He stated that he was only presenting a brief of the discussions of the special state committee meeting that reportedly focused on a wide range of issues, including the party’s performance in recent elections.