Tripura Ex-CM backs TET protestors, advises govt to spend more on creation of livelihood opportunities

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Former Tripura chief minister and veteran CPI(M) leader Manik Sarkar on Friday extended his full support to the protestors demanding early recruitment of TET paper-I qualifiers and also advised the government to spend more on creation of livelihood opportunities for people instead of greeting them empty handed. 

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a blood donation camp organised by the Students’ Federation of India (SFI), Sarkar said the protesters had been compelled to continue their agitation and that Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha should hold talks with them.

“I fully support their agitation and the demand they are raising. The chief minister should speak to them. The government should take positive steps towards providing jobs to those who remain to be recruited, based on their eligibility,” Sarkar said, adding that recruitment of all successful candidates might not be possible for the government but proper communication resolves misunderstandings. 

He questioned why the chief minister had not held discussions with the candidates, pointing out that a large proportion of those seeking recruitment would join the Education Department, which is also headed by the Chief Minister himself.

"Even if recruitment at one go is not possible, proper communication channels should be activated and the protestors should be made aware of the situation,” he added.

He described the "ignorance” from the end of government as unethical and inhuman. “The aspirants had been protesting in difficult conditions under the open sky throughout the night,” he added. 

The former chief minister urged the government to take appropriate steps to address their demand.

Referring to the Durga Puja festivities, Sarkar said the lack of livelihood opportunities had adversely impacted the participation of people in the festivities.

“I hope people of the state spend the festival with great joy and enthusiasm. But, for the festivities to be joyous and eventful, finance is a necessary precondition. So far, I know the livelihood opportunities both in urban and rural areas have been shrinking and hence the celebrations are getting impacted. I would like to urge upon the government to make sure that people who have their wages due should get their payment in time before the festival and in future efforts should be undertaken to create more employment in the rural and urban belts,” he said. 

He also criticised the government's spending on public festival greetings. “I have noticed big hoardings across the city that contain greetings from the Chief Minister and several other ministers. Empty handed greetings serve no purpose,” said Sarkar.

On the blood donation camp, Sarkar appreciated the SFI’s Sadar divisional committee for organising the programme, saying the organisation had been holding the event on the same day for the past several years.

He said he had been informed that 12 people had already donated blood, while others were undergoing medical checks before donation. Sarkar expressed hope that the number of donors would match or exceed last year’s figure of around 20 to 21.

He appealed to people to donate blood whenever the need arose rather than wait for organised camps.

Sarkar also called on the state government to involve departments and personnel from the police, Tripura State Rifles and Home Guards in blood donation drives to increase participation. He urged the SFI and other student and youth organisations to keep on organising such initiatives.

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