TTAADC:Development Forgotten, Allegations of Loot Dominate the Headlines
Jayanta Debnath
September 20, 2025
The Autonomous District Council (ADC) of Tripura was created with the vision of ensuring self-governance and socio-economic development for more than a million of tribal people. Four decades later, the institution stands accused of widespread corruption, malpractice, and mismanagement. Under the present administration led by the Tipra Motha party, the ADC has come under intense public scrutiny.
Since its formation in 1982, the ADC has remained in the hands of tribal-led political parties, first with CPIM, then IPFT, Tipra Motha and at most of the times CPI (M). Neither Congress nor BJP has ever directly ruled the ADC.
For the last four and a half years, the Tipra Motha, under the leadership of royal scion Pradyot Kishore Debbarman, has been in control. Yet, despite consistent claims that national parties failed to deliver for the tribals, Motha’s administration itself is being questioned for its lack of tangible progress. Pradyot Kishore and his party have repeatedly accused Congress, CPI(M), and BJP of neglecting the tribals’ welfare. But the pressing question today is: what has the Tipra Motha government achieved in over four years of ADC rule?The answer, as critics argue, is alarming,
Job scams, contractor favouritism, backdoor deals, and illegal perks for council members !.The critics also argue that one of the most glaring failures of the ADC administration has been in recruitment.Despite large number of vacancies, unemployed tribal youths have been denied jobs. Recruitment exams for engineers and Zonal Development Officers (ZDO) were conducted twice but both had to be cancelled after massive allegations of corruption. Question papers and answer keys were leaked ahead of the exams. High-level posts such as Finance Officer and Law Officer were filled without interviews.
Not only that, the major development contracts have allegedly been handed over to outsiders, sidelining capable local entrepreneurs.Projects such as:
1. Smoke houses for rubber cultivation, Fishery management at Dumboor reservoir, construction of log huts to boost tourism near the ADC headquarters have all gone to non-local contractors.
2. The most controversial deal came when the Dumboor reservoir, Tripura’s most important fishery asset, was handed over to a Hyderabad-based party. The terms of the agreement remain undisclosed.
3. Six months ago, ADC’s Executive Members allegedly tripled their own allowances. The proposal was sent to the Governor through the Tribal Welfare Department. The Governor did not approve it. Despite this, the file was cleared administratively, raising members’ allowances from Rs. 30–32,000 to over Rs. 1 lakh.
A political analyst observes: An institution built for the welfare of tribals has now turned into a cash machine for its leaders. This is administrative decay at its peak.
Dozens of such irregularities have surfaced, but neither the state government nor the Centre has initiated a serious probe. Analysts say political compulsions and the tribal vote bank have kept both governments silent.
A veteran journalist comments:“Everyone knows about the corruption, but no one dares to investigate. Electoral politics has paralyzed governance.”Instead of self-governance and development, the ADC today symbolizes corruption and betrayal for many tribals.
Tripura’s Autonomous District Council, meant to empower tribals, has strayed far from its founding mission. Under Tipra Motha’s leadership, it faces growing allegations of corruption and malpractice. Unless transparent reforms and independent investigations are initiated, the ADC risks losing its legitimacy and the people’s trust, forever.
(Writer Jayanta Debnath is a Senior Journalist and Editor Tripurainfo.com)
(Tripurainfo)
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