Tripura

Area : 10,491.69 sqkm
Population : 31,91,168 (Census-2001)
Capital : Agartala
Principal Languages : Bengali and Kokborok

Historical Background

Tripura, currently a full-fledged state of North-East India, was formerly a princely state that had a long list of tribal kings stretching back into antiquity. According to versions presented in different editions of 'Rajmala', princely Tripura's court chronicle , altogether 184 or 179 kings of the Manikya dynasty had ruled the state . Scholars on Tripura's history , however, attribute all the pre-fifteenth century kings to the realm of mythology though continued sway of the Manikya dynasty has been attested since the year 1432.

The partition of India in 1947 and political upheavals that had preceded and followed the momentous development had brought an end to princely rule of Manikya dynasty in Tripura. After India became independent, Tripura acceded to the Indian Union on 15 October, 1949 as a "C" category state and became a Union Territory in November 1956. A popularly elected ministry was formed in Tripura in July 1963 and since then, the State has had governments elected on the basis of universal adult franchise. Tripura attained full statehood on January 21, 1972. Tripura is also rich in its composite cultural heritage embodied in archaeological remains , architecture and sculpture.

Tripura is the 2nd smallest state in terms of area, but the 2nd most populous state in the North Eastern Region. Although the state is small with a population of only over three million, the social composition of the population of Tripura is diverse. In particular, around one-third of the population comprises people belonging to the Scheduled Tribes.

Demographic Features

According to final results of 2001 census, the state's population stood at 31.99 lakh, with a density of 305 persons per sq. km. In 2006, the estimated mid-decade population of the state was 34,74,000 comprising 17,79,000 males and 16,95,000 females. The birth rate in the state in the year 2006 was 16.6 per thousand which was the lowest in northeastern region, much lower than the national average of 23.5. Again, in 2006, its death rate was 6.3 per thousand which was much below the all India average of 8.1 and was second lowest after Mizoram. There are 19 sub-tribes among the scheduled tribes in the state with their own distinctive cultures.

Population pattern and demography have always been sensitive issues in Tripura over the past century which saw an actual decline in indigenous tribal population in terms of percentage because of resettlement of non-tribals in the state, particularly in the aftermath of the partition of the country in 1947. In 1901 Tripura's population was 1.73 lakh, with tribals making up nearly 52.89 per cent of the whole. By 1941, the total population rose to 5.13 lakh with a barely 50.09 per cent tribal majority. But by 1981, the tribal population dipped to 28.44 per cent of a total population of 2.05 million. Evidently, the tribal people were reduced from over a half to barely more than a quarter of the state's population in a century. The demographic changes, the economic pressures created by the sudden influx of people and the spread of education through missionary influence among the Mizos, Kukis and other tribes, have generated new impulses and a mix of expectations and aspirations. A feature of note is that around 97.4 per cent of the tribal population is rural. Human development among tribal people is thus very closely tied to the evolution of the rural economy.

State Economy

Agriculture forms the primary sector of Tripura's economy as it does in other states of northeastern region. More than 75% of the state's total workforce is still dependent on agriculture for their subsistence. In fact, about 24.3 % of the state's net area is reserved for agricultural purposes, of which about 2.5 lakh hectares fall under the net cultivated area. Paddy is the principal crop that is reaped in Tripura. Besides paddy, jute, sugarcane, wheat, oilseeds, coconut and turmeric are also grown in plenty in this northeast Indian state. The state takes elaborate measures to spruce up the agricultural infrastructure. New technologies, fertilizers, improved seeds and protective chemicals have been introduced with a great deal of success to keep the state's agriculture in healthy shape.

The remote location, lack of power facilities as well as a well developed transport and communication network had hindered the growth and development of Tripura until the year 1950. However, today a number of small scale industries have grown in the state based on the manufacture and production of handicrafts and handloom products, rubber, bamboo, jute and tea. Natural gas and fruit processing units have also sprung up in the state.

Tripura Handloom and Handicraft Development Corporation Ltd. is employing a whole array of novel marketing schemes to market the local handicraft items. The state is also a repository of glass sand, clay, lignite and building material. The latent hydro electric potential of the state is also being exploited to further the state's industrial development. Five major industrial estates have come up at Dharmanagar and Kumarghat areas of north Tripura , Arundhatinagar and Dukli areas of west Tripura and Dhwajanagar area of south Tripura district of the state while three industrial centres have also been set up in Agartala, Udaipur and Kailashahar.

Agriculture & Irrigation

The economy of Tripura is primarily agrarian. Agriculture is the state's dominant sector with a contribution of nearly 30 per cent to the Net State Domestic Product (NSDP). According to 2001 census, about 52 per cent of total main workers are engaged in agriculture in Tripura, of which cultivators form about 28 percent and agricultural labourers form roughly 24 percent. Small and marginal farmers constitute almost 90 percent of the total farming community in the state. The net sown area is only about 27 percent of the state's geographical area.

In Tripura , total cultivable area is about 2.55 lakh hectares of land , out of which, total irrigable area is about 1,17,000 hactares or 45.88% which is under irrigation (roughly about 79 thousand hectares through surface water + 38 thousand hectares through ground water). An additional about 23,441 hectares of land are proposed to be brought under assured irrigation by the year 2011. The state government is currently implementing a ten year perspective plan (2000-2012) with emphasis on nine specific points to achieve self-sufficiency in food production.

Art & Culture

Tripura, nestled in a tip of the Northeast, flourishes on the bounties of nature but the beauty of the state is heightened by its human resources on the one hand and rich cultural tradition on the other.

Folk culture of the tribal and non-tribal people of the state forms the backbone of Tripura's cultural tradition. This is reflected as much in the delicately rhythmic physical movement of the 'Hoza Giri' dance of the Reang tribesmen as in the collective musical recitation of 'Manasa Mangal' or 'Kirtan' (devotional songs in chorus) of the non-tribals. Apart from this, the 'Garia' dance of the tribals, organized on the occasion of New Year festivities and worship of 'Garia', and 'Dhamail' dance of the non-tribals, organized on familial occasions like wedding ceremony in rural areas as well as musical duels (Kabi Gaan) between two rival rhyme-makers on public platforms form the staple of Tripura's folk culture. Enriched by myths and legends of tribal society over the past half a millennium, Tripura's folk culture now confronts a major threat from so-called modernity. Gone are the days when rhythmic movement of artists in 'Garia' or 'Dhamail' dance would keep viewers awake all through the night. These forms of culture have been falling prey to invasion of modernity as western musical instruments like guitar, mandolin etc keep replacing the traditional instruments like indigenous drums and flutes and western 'break dance' push aside the pristine purity of the 'Garia' dance or 'Dhamail'. However, cultural programmes, marked by songs and dances, associated with birth anniversaries of great poets and lyricists Rabindra Nath Tagore and Kazi Nazrul Islam add colour and charm to the state's multi-layered cultural mosaic enriched by contributions from many streams of sub-culture.

Natural Resources

Tripura offers great opportunities for investment in natural resource-based industries as well as in service sector ventures. The major available resources in the State are as follows:

• Natural Gas (External website that opens in a new window) : Tripura has vast reserves (estimated reserve 400 BCM) of high quality (97% methane content) natural gas, available in non-associated form.
• Rubber (External website that opens in a new window) : Tripura is the second largest (after Kerala) rubber producing state in the country with a potential of cultivation over 1.0 lakh hectares. At present, total area under rubber plantation is about 25 thousand hectares with rubber production of around 10 thousand MT a year.
• Tea (External website that opens in a new window) : Tripura is the 5th largest tea producing state in India, with 60 Tea Estates and about 3000 small tea growers, producing annually about 7.5 million kg of tea.
• Bamboo (External website that opens in a new window) : In Tripura, about 9 % of the geographical area (1000 sq km.) is under bamboo forestry, with a volume of about 0.9 million cubic meter production. The cane and bamboo handicrafts of Tripura are considered among the best in India.
• Forest (External website that opens in a new window) : In Tripura an area of 6293 sq. km, or 60% of the total geographical area of the state is under forests. Out of this, 57% is under reserve forest, 35% is under 'unclassified Govt forest' and the remaining 8% is under proposed reserve forest. Hardwood (misc) Plantation (Teak, Sal, Gamai, Mahogony, Sandhi & Chamal) and Bamboo are the major forest products. Besides, shifting cultivation is being practised in about 8 % of forest areas. The State Govt is implementing various programmes with the objective of
  • In-situ & ex-situ conservation of wild life,
  • Protection of forests,
  • Development of eco-tourism,
  • Increasing forest productivity,
  • Expanding tree cover beyond forest areas etc.

Industrial Infrastructure

Currently, there are six (6) industrial Estates/ Areas. Besides, an Industrial Growth Centre Project has already been completed at Bodhjungnagar, Tripura (West district). The work on setting up an Export Promotion Industrial Park (EPIP) and a Food Park has been taken up in an area adjacent to the Industrial Growth Centre. The infrastructure facilities at Land Custom Stations are being upgraded to facilitate the import/ export trade with Bangladesh.

Industries & Minerals

The Department of Industries & Commerce was established to promote Village and Small-scale industries as well as medium and large scale industries in the State. While efforts are being made to promote entrepreneurship within the State, the outside investors in the public and private sectors are also encouraged both for their financial capabilities and technical expertise, for the medium and large-scale units.

In conformity with the national policy of revitalization of the rural economy, the Govt. has placed highest priority on the development of Small Scale, Village & Traditional Industries considering the fact that more than 80% of Tripura's population live in villages and the state's traditional industries are village oriented. All techno-economic assistance like EDP training etc are being provided to the new generation entrepreneurs right from identification of the project to its implementation.

The major existing industrial area is the Industrial Growth Centre Complex at Bodhjungnagar which also includes Food Park, Rubber Park and Export Promotion Industrial Park. The other industrial sites near Agartala as the main business and industrial centres are Dukli, Arundhatinagar and Badharghat. In addition, Kumarghat in Kailasahar subdivision of north Tripura is also located close to a potential industrial and business centre.

In Tripura, the mineral resources are minor amounts of glass sands, limestone, plastic clay and hard rock and all of these materials are being used in varying degrees. Setting up of ceramic tiles unit and other mineral based industries are being encouraged in the private sector. Efforts will also be made to set up Plastic Clay and Glass Sand industries where natural gas has added advantage of being used as a fuel.

Travel & Tourism

Tripura is an attractive tourist destination with rich flora, fauna and spectacular sights that provide visual delight. The state has a rich cultural heritage. There is also great potential for development of tourist circuits, involving all the NE states and Bangladesh as well. All these offer attractive opportunities for the growth and development of Hospitality Industry.

Endowed with rich variety of tourist attractions, Tripura offers vast potential for growth in this sector. With an area of 10,491.69 Sq. Km, Tripura is one of the smallest States in the country. But this ancient State with its natural beauty of lustrous green valleys and the hill ranges covered with varied flora and fauna, the fascinating blend of culture, glorious history and traditional art and craft is in a highly advantageous position for development of tourism. For convenience of tourists the State has been divided into two tourist circuits. One is west-south Tripura circuit covering the tourist destinations of west and south Tripura Districts and the other tourist circuit is west-north Tripura circuit covering the tourist destinations of north Tripura and Dhalai District. The entire State is having huge potential in tourism, specially eco-tourism, religious tourism, heritage tourism, hill tourism, rural tourism etc.

Tripura has already emerged as a major tourist destination with concomitant and positive effect on its economy as the number of domestic as well as foreign tourists pouring in to the state has been steadily growing. Even though the revenue yield from tourism sector to the state coffer in Tripura is not yet as high as it is in tourism-centric states like Goa and Himachal Pradesh, the overall growth of this sector has been impressive over the past decade with promises for more in the coming years. In line with the policies of the government of India the tourism sector is attached great importance by the state government as an independent industry. In the year 2009 the state government launched the Tripura Tourism Development Corporation (TTDC) to unshackle this crucial sector from bureaucratic paraphernalia as well as to further stimulate growth.