Agartala: Tripura has received 347 national and regional awards over the past eight years for its performance in good governance, reflecting sustained administrative reforms and citizen-centric policymaking, Chief Minister Manik Saha said on Saturday.
Addressing a discussion organised on good governance, Saha said the recognitions underscore Tripura’s steady transformation driven by policy-led initiatives, institutional strengthening and innovation.
He said the state’s experience reinforces the idea that smaller states can also lead through ideas, effective institutions and forward-looking governance.
The chief minister said Tripura has been recognised as the country’s seventh frontrunner state in the field of good governance and is poised to emerge as a pathfinder among Northeastern states in terms of policy formulation and development pace.
To further accelerate development, Saha said the Tripura Institution for Transformation (TIFT) has decided to introduce an index-based monitoring system to track progress across sectors.
He described good governance as a continuous process of building trust between the government and citizens, stressing that effective decision-making, functional institutions and outcome-oriented delivery remain central to the state’s development strategy.
“Sustainable transformation cannot be achieved through fragmented implementation of schemes alone. It requires strong institutions, evidence-based policymaking and continuous reforms,” the chief minister said.
Paying tribute to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Saha said Vajpayee’s vision of governance rooted in sensitivity, dialogue and dignity for citizens continues to inspire governments across the country.
He recalled that the Good Governance Department was set up in August 2023, followed by the launch of TIFT in December the same year under the guidance of NITI Aayog’s State Support Mission.
TIFT, envisioned as Tripura’s policy think tank, has since been recognised by NITI Aayog as one of the seven leading state institutions in the country.
Under the State Support Mission, Tripura has worked closely with leading knowledge institutions to identify core strengths, set realistic targets and prepare sector-specific roadmaps.
Over the past two years, the Good Governance Department has framed record retention and disposal policies, along with asset management policies, to ensure systematic handling of official records and government assets.
Highlighting innovation as a pillar of modern governance, Saha said TIFT, in collaboration with IIM Calcutta’s Innovation Park, organised design thinking workshops that contributed to the formulation of the Tripura Startup Policy.
The policy aims to address challenges related to finance, incubation, mentoring and market access, while promoting inclusive and sustainable innovation.
The chief minister said youth and employment remain central to administrative reforms.
In this context, TIFT has undertaken extensive research to restructure the state’s skill development ecosystem to better align skills with industry demand and prepare young people for emerging sectors and global opportunities.
To encourage private participation alongside public investment, the state government has established a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Cell under the Good Governance Department.
The cell has supported projects such as a multispecialty hospital at Amtali, a multi-level parking facility at Battala and affordable housing at Nandan Nagar.
Saha said close engagement between TIFT and NITI Aayog has led to tangible outcomes, including the recent approval of the final location survey for the Jirania–Bodhjungnagar railway line, seen as a critical infrastructure project for industrial growth.
Tripura’s governance initiatives have also received recognition beyond the state.
Following deliberations at the 72nd plenary session of the Northeastern Council, chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Saha was appointed Convener of a high-level task force on investment promotion in the Northeast.
After consultations with all Northeastern states, a unified industrial investment policy for the region was prepared, which has since been adopted as a model template for similar task forces across the country.
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The chief minister said Tripura’s reform strategy, presented at the recent 5th Chief Secretaries’ Conference, has drawn interest from other states, with Bihar inviting Tripura officials to study its model of doing business.
Saha also highlighted the Prabasi Tripurabasi Initiative as a platform to reconnect with the global Tripuri diaspora.
He said the initiative has evolved from virtual engagement to physical summits, generating ideas, investments and strategic inputs for the state’s development.
Chief Secretary J.K. Sinha said Tripura has earned praise from the Centre for its governance initiatives and has emerged as a key partner in national development efforts.
Director General of Police Anurag spoke on the state’s law and order situation, while Good Governance Department Secretary Kiran Gitte outlined ongoing and future programmes of the department and TIFT.
