Tribal bodies in Tripura rejected demand for a separate state Twipraland

Major tribal bodies in Tripura on 8 September 2014 rejected the demands for a separate state called Twipraland. The separate State Twipraland was to be carved out of the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC).

The tribal bodies rejected the demand on the grounds that it was divisive and communal and it would hamper the development in the State. Further, they said that this is not the right time for a separate state as first the empowerment of the tribals in the state is needed.

The major tribal bodies that rejected the demand for a separate state were the Tribal Student Union (TSU) and the Tribal Youth Federation (TYF), which is the tribal youth wing of ruling CPI-M Party, and Indigenous Youth Federation of Tripura (IYFT).

Background
The demand for a separate state Twipraland was recently demanded by the Indigenous People's Front of Tripura (IPFT) which is a breakaway faction of Indigenous Nationalist Party of Tripura (INPT). They want Twipraland to be carved out of Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC).

The tribal council constitutes two third of the state territory and is the home to tribals forming one third of the state population.

There have been attempts by the Union government for empowering the tribal council and in this regard, Union government in 2013 had made some proposal. Besides, Union government also enacted Forest Dwellers Act, 2006 for rehabilitation of the tribals in the State.

About Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC)
Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) was constituted under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution. It covers and have jurisdiction over the total areas of all the four revenue districts. The Council was set up on 18 January 1982. Following the 49th Amendment of the Constitution of India, the TTAADC was brought under the provisions of the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution with effect from 1.4.1985.

The principal objective of setting up the TTAADC is to empower the tribal people to govern themselves bring all round development to them and protect and preserve their culture, customs and traditions.

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