Tripura Government Reaffirms Commitment to Rehabilitation of Surrendered Militants, Says CM Manik Saha
By Our Correspondent
Agartala, September 1, 2026
The Tripura government has reiterated its commitment to the rehabilitation and socio-economic development of surrendered militants and members of former insurgent organisations, maintaining that efforts are being made with complete sincerity to resolve the issues associated with their rehabilitation.
The issue came up for discussion in the Tripura Legislative Assembly on Monday during the second phase of the ongoing session. Responding to a notice raised by MLA Ranjit Debbarma, Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha said the state government has been working continuously to fulfil the commitments made to surrendered militants and ensure that they are brought back into mainstream society.
The Chief Minister said the rehabilitation process is being pursued in coordination with the relevant departments, particularly the Technical and Tribal Welfare Department, with the objective of ensuring that former militants and their families receive the benefits and support promised under the rehabilitation package.
The matter was raised in the Assembly against the backdrop of a report published in a daily newspaper on August 22. The report reportedly questioned whether the commitments made to former insurgent groups were being properly implemented. In response, Tribal Welfare Minister Bikash Debbarma placed detailed information before the House regarding the government's rehabilitation initiatives.
According to the minister, the Government of India, the Tripura Government and the National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) entered into a historic tripartite memorandum of settlement on September 4, 2024. The agreement was signed in an effort to permanently address the issue of insurgency and facilitate the rehabilitation and mainstreaming of those who had surrendered.
Under the agreement, a total of 91 former militants were identified as beneficiaries. This included 69 members of NLFT (BM), 16 members of NLFT (PD), three members of NLFT (AB) and three members of the All Tripura Tiger Force (ATTF).
As part of the rehabilitation package, financial assistance of Rs 4 lakh per beneficiary was deposited in the accounts of the former militants through the Tripura Gramin Bank. In addition, vocational training and other rehabilitation measures were initiated. The government has also been providing a monthly stipend of Rs 6,000 to each beneficiary for a period of 36 months as part of the rehabilitation process.
The government has further taken steps to provide security and other forms of support to former militants and their families. According to the information placed before the Assembly, 12 senior leaders have been provided PSO security, while arrangements relating to housing and land have also been undertaken for eligible beneficiaries.
Financial assistance amounting to approximately Rs 9.45 lakh per family has reportedly been sanctioned for housing and land-related purposes for nine beneficiaries. The government said these measures are intended not merely as financial assistance but as part of a broader effort to enable surrendered militants to establish stable livelihoods and reintegrate into normal social life.
The Tribal Welfare Minister also informed the Assembly that the Government of India has earmarked a special development package of Rs 250 crore for the development of tribal areas during the financial years 2025-26 to 2028-29. The package is being implemented through the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (MDoNER), with a focus on infrastructure and socio-economic development in the region.
However, the implementation of the rehabilitation package has also encountered complications, particularly concerning land-related proposals. The Centre reportedly informed the state government on August 18, 2026, that projects of a social or individual-centric nature could not be taken up on land classified as privately owned under the existing guidelines.
The former insurgent organisations had submitted four major project proposals involving around Rs 310.95 crore. A significant portion of the proposed projects involved privately owned land, creating difficulties in obtaining approval under the central guidelines. The Centre's stipulated ceiling for the special development package was reportedly Rs 250 crore, while the proposals submitted by the organisations exceeded that ceiling by around Rs 60.95 crore.
In view of these complications, the state government has begun reassessing the proposals and examining ways to modify them so that they comply with the central government's guidelines and can become eligible for approval.
The government has also constituted a special committee on July 14, 2026, under the Tribal Welfare Department to examine the proposals and determine an appropriate course of action. The issue remained under active consideration, with another round of discussions reportedly held on August 31 between state government officials, representatives of the Laihoon Development Board and representatives of four former militant organisations.
The latest discussions are aimed at resolving the land-related complications and restructuring the proposals wherever necessary so that they can be forwarded to the Centre for early approval in accordance with the applicable guidelines.
During the Assembly discussion, Opposition leader Jitendra Chowdhury and MLA Ranjit Debbarma also participated in the debate. Their interventions highlighted the continuing political and public interest surrounding the implementation of the rehabilitation commitments made to former insurgents.
The state government maintained that there has been no deliberate delay or negligence in implementing the commitments. Instead, officials are working to overcome procedural and land-related obstacles arising from the central guidelines.
The developments assume significance as the rehabilitation of surrendered militants remains an important component of Tripura's post-insurgency peace process. The government has sought to assure the Assembly that the objective is to ensure that former insurgents are permanently integrated into mainstream society while simultaneously promoting development in tribal areas.
The latest discussions between the government and representatives of the former militant organisations are therefore expected to play a crucial role in resolving the outstanding issues, particularly those concerning land, project eligibility and funding, and in paving the way for implementation of the rehabilitation and development commitments made under the 2024 tripartite settlement.
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