Tripura Chief Minister Professor (Dr.) Manik Saha on Thursday distributed appointment letters to 211 candidates recruited in the Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Department and the Power Department, stating that the present state government is providing jobs based on merit, transparency and hard work, without political interference or favoritism.

The appointment letter distribution ceremony was held at Matangini Pritilata Auditorium in Agartala. Of the 211 candidates, 131 were appointed to the post of Agriculture Officer in the Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Department, while 80 were recruited as Grade-III and Diploma Managers in the Power Department.

Addressing the newly appointed candidates, the Chief Minister urged them to use digital facilities such as AI and other emerging technologies to provide better services to ordinary people. He emphasized the importance of keeping themselves updated, accepting new challenges and continuously learning to contribute more effectively to the welfare of society.

Dr Saha said that love, faith and commitment towards the state are essential for its development. He asserted that the government was addressing unemployment through government recruitment as well as skill development initiatives aimed at promoting self-employment.

He informed the gathering that approximately two lakh young people had received skill-development training so far. He also stressed the need to increase agricultural production through scientific methods, improved machinery and quality seeds.

The Chief Minister said Tripura currently has 47 agricultural subdivisions and that the state government has decided to establish one agricultural subdivision in every block. He added that 130 Agriculture Sector Officers are currently working in the state.

Highlighting the government’s efforts to support farmers, Dr. Saha said that since 2018, the state had procured more than 1.44 lakh metric tonnes of paddy from over one lakh farmers at the minimum support price, with approximately Rs 573 crore transferred directly to farmers’ accounts.

He also referred to the benefits provided under the PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme, stating that more than 2.85 lakh farmers in Tripura had received a total of Rs 1,211 crore. Under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, more than 1.29 lakh farmers had received Rs 11 crore, he added.

The Chief Minister also discussed several initiatives, including the Mukhyamantri Swasthya Bima scheme, Kisan Credit Cards, promotion of organic farming, hybrid paddy cultivation and the Mukhyamantri Shasya Shyamala Yojana.

Speaking about the Power Department, Dr. Saha said the government had undertaken extensive expansion and modernisation of substations, transmission and distribution lines, transformers and modern cabling systems to ensure a reliable and safe electricity supply.

Over the past eight years, 45 new 33-kV substations have been established, while 410 km of 33-kV lines have been extended. In addition, 5,516 new distribution transformers have been installed, along with 2,582 km of new 11-kV lines and 371 km of underground cable expansion.

He further stated that electricity connections had been provided to 11,692 households under the PM Janman scheme.

Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Ratan Lal Nath, speaking at the programme, said South Tripura, Gomati and Sepahijala districts had achieved self-sufficiency in food-grain production, while Khowai district had attained self-sufficiency in rice production. He expressed confidence that Unakoti and Dhalai districts would also move towards self-sufficiency.

The minister said the state government was promoting natural and organic farming, along with oil palm cultivation, to improve agricultural productivity. He added that over the past eight years, 787 people had been recruited as regular employees and 127 under the die-in-harness scheme in the Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Department. A total of 1,336 people had also been appointed on a contractual basis.

In the Power Department, 994 people had been recruited over the past eight years, the minister said.

Of the 131 candidates appointed in the Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Department on Thursday, 70 were men and 61 were women. In the Power Department, 58 men and 22 women received appointment letters.

Secretary of the Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Department Apurba Roy delivered the welcome address, while TSCSCL Managing Director B. B. Basu offered the vote of thanks. Power Department Secretary Abhishek Singh was also present at the programme.

The ceremony highlighted the government’s recruitment initiatives alongside its efforts to strengthen agriculture, improve rural infrastructure and modernise the state’s electricity network.