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Agartala, Nov 7: The Chief Minister of Tripura, Manik Saha, announced that his administration has earmarked 40% of the total budget for the 2025-26 fiscal year specifically for the welfare of tribal communities.

The overall budget for the current financial year is set at Rs 32,000 crore.

During an event in Chailengta, located in the Dhalai district, Saha emphasized that the progress of the northeastern state hinges on the upliftment of its tribal population.

"Recognizing this necessity, our government has allocated over 40% of the budget towards the development of tribal areas for the upcoming financial year. We are also prioritizing skill development for tribal individuals, particularly the resettled Bru community," he stated.

Thousands of Bru families, who have been residing in Tripura since the late 1990s due to ethnic conflicts in Mizoram, were relocated to various districts following a 2020 agreement.

"Through initiatives like the PM Kaushalya Yojana and Mukhyamantri Dakkhata Yojana, we are offering skill training to these Bru individuals," the Chief Minister added.

Saha mentioned that Union Home Minister Amit Shah, during a visit to a Bru resettlement area in Ambassa, highlighted that merely providing housing, water, and other amenities would not suffice for their sustainable livelihoods.

"The Skill Development Department is actively training them. The Bru community has expressed their gratitude towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It is essential to equip them with skills to secure employment," he remarked.

The Chief Minister asserted that for the past 23 years, no political entity or government had advocated for a lasting resolution for the Bru community.

"The BJP-led administration, on humanitarian grounds, addressed their concerns by formalizing an agreement. Our government stands with you and is committed to your development. We aim to foster self-reliance among the people," he stated.

Saha elaborated that when the agreement was finalized in 2020, extensive discussions took place, leading to the resettlement of Bru families in 12 different locations across the state.

"We have distributed toolkits to 895 individuals and issued driving licenses to 200, with an expenditure of Rs 1.45 crore," he noted.

Earlier, the Chief Minister distributed toolkits to skilled Bru candidates and virtually inaugurated new facilities for a school and several government departments.