Agartala, April 22: In a significant step towards strengthening the educational infrastructure of Tripura, Chief Minister Prof. Dr. Manik Saha on Monday inaugurated newly constructed school buildings across six institutions under West Tripura district. The event was held at Amtali Higher Secondary School, where the Chief Minister physically inaugurated the newly constructed building and virtually launched the infrastructure projects of five other schools.
The six schools which received new buildings include Amtali Higher Secondary School, Henry Derozio Academy, Gandhigram Higher Secondary School, Taltala Higher Secondary School, Indranagar Higher Secondary School, and Nandanagar Higher Secondary School. These institutions now boast state-of-the-art facilities aimed at enhancing the quality of education.
Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister, who also holds the Education portfolio, highlighted the State Government's unwavering commitment to quality education. He reiterated that no nation can progress without a robust education system and that the Government of Tripura considers education a priority sector. "Wherever required, our Government is taking necessary steps to strengthen the education system," he stated.
Financial and Strategic Investment
The total financial outlay for the six new school buildings crosses several crores, with Amtali Higher Secondary School’s new building alone costing approximately Rs 3.80 crore. Henry Derozio Academy’s two-storey building was constructed at a cost of Rs 2.99 crore. The new infrastructure at Indranagar English Medium Higher Secondary School and Nandanagar Higher Secondary School involved expenditures of Rs 1.39 crore and Rs 1.86 crore respectively. Additionally, Gandhigram and Taltala Higher Secondary Schools each saw infrastructure investments amounting to Rs 8.67 crore.
The projects have been funded through a combination of Special Assistance for Capital Investment, Rural Infrastructure Development Fund, and Samagra Shiksha schemes. This multi-sourced funding approach signifies the collaborative efforts between the State and Central governments for long-term development.
Statewide School Infrastructure Development
Currently, the state is witnessing the construction of 30 new school buildings at a total estimated cost of Rs 140.20 crore. In West Tripura district alone, 73 projects worth Rs 30.56 crore are underway under Samagra Shiksha. The Chief Minister also revealed plans to begin construction of 16 more school buildings in the fiscal year 2025-26, with a projected budget of Rs 117.96 crore. An additional Rs 13 crore has been earmarked for infrastructural improvements under Samagra Shiksha.
Out of the ongoing projects, work on 11 schools in West Tripura district has already been completed.
Focus on Holistic Education
Dr. Saha emphasised the need for quality and vocational education and cited the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He informed that over 1.42 lakh girl students across 2,058 schools in the state have received self-defence training under the Rani Lakshmibai Self Defence Training Scheme.
Further, in a move to prioritise health and hygiene, the state government has installed sanitary napkin vending machines in 455 schools at a cost of over Rs 1.31 crore. There are also plans to launch special coaching centres for science and English subjects in the upcoming financial year.
Digital Push and NEP Implementation
The Chief Minister underlined the state's progress in digital education. A total of 854 smart classrooms have been established, and initiatives like Bande Bharat and e-Vidya channels have been launched to make learning more interactive and inclusive. Notably, the National Education Policy (NEP) has been implemented not only at the school level but also across colleges in Tripura, aligning the state with nationwide reforms.
Dr. Saha also stressed that the Government’s objective is not merely to frame policies but to ensure their successful implementation, thereby ensuring that students receive quality education that empowers them for the future.
Presence of Dignitaries
The inauguration ceremony saw the presence of several eminent personalities, including Deputy Speaker of the State Legislative Assembly Ram Prasad Pal, Special Secretary of the Education Department Ravel Hemendra Kumar, Director of School Education N.C. Sharma, and Dukli Panchayat Samiti Chairman Bhulan Saha, among others.
While the QR Codes for Flora initiative under the ‘Eco Clubs for Mission LiFE’ campaign was ceremonially launched during the event, the focus of the day remained on showcasing the significant infrastructural progress achieved in the education sector.
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