The President Droupadi Murmu has given a rousing welcome on Wednesday morning in the Agartala airport followed by a special gesture; the President was accorded an all women Guard of Honour by the Tripura Police.

The President Droupadi Murmu has given a rousing welcome on Wednesday morning in the Agartala airport followed by a special gesture; the President was accorded an all women Guard of Honour by the Tripura Police.

The President Droupadi Murmu in her maiden visit to Agartala arrived at the airport through a special flight and was received by Governor Satyadev Narayan Arya, Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha, Union Minister of State, Smt Pratima Bhowmik, Chief Secretary, DGP and other top officials of the state administration.

After attending a series of programmes including inauguration of the National Law University (NLU) at Narsingarh and visiting the Durgabari tea estate in the West Tripura district's Mohanpur subdivision, and interacted with tea garden workers.

The President in another programme held at Rabindra Satabarshiki Bhavan inaugurates, lays foundation stones for various projects for strengthening the connectivity, education sector, Judicial Academy and Law University among the projects.

While, addressing the gathering the President said that development of the North Eastern region in getting new impetus with various new projects of Highway, Railway, Airway and Waterway after virtually inaugurated an MLA Hostel at Capital Complex, Agartala and laid foundation stones for Maharaja Birendra Kishore Manikya Museum and Cultural Centre; IIIT-Agartala; and various projects of government of Tripura related to roads, schools and hostels for students from Rabindra Satabarshiki Bhavan.

She said that projects inaugurated today will not only strengthen the connectivity, education, judiciary and legislature in Tripura, but also boost the rich culture of the state.

The President said that the youth of India have made a unique identity in the field of Information Technology, all over the world. She was confident that the permanent campus of Indian Institute of Information Technology, Agartala will set new benchmarks in the field of Information Technology.

The President said that a holistic education system is essential for the development of the nation and progress of the youth. ‘Along with higher education, we should give more emphasis on primary education,’ said President and added that she was happy to note that the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region, in association with Tripura government, has launched 'Vidya-Jyoti Mission 100' under which 100 existing higher secondary schools will be converted into quality education institutions with state-of-the-art facilities.

The President said that there is immense potential for development in the North-Eastern Region. Today, development of the Region is getting a new impetus with various new projects of highways, railways, airways and waterways.

The President said that India has become the 5th largest economy in the world. The North Eastern Region, including Tripura, will play an important role in making India a five trillion dollar economy by 2025. She expressed confidence that the aspirations, innovation and entrepreneurship of the talented and hardworking people, especially the youth of Tripura, will play an important role in achieving this goal.

While, attending Civic reception hosted by Agartala Municipal Corporation (AMC) here at Agartala Town Hall on Wednesday evening in presence of Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Minister, Urban Development Minister and Mayor of AMC, the President recalling great sacrifice and bravery of Elbert Ekka said that Tripura among the prosperous and proud state of the country, which has been known for producing least plastic waste.

The President thanked the people of Tripura for their warm welcome. She said that the composite culture of Tripura is the pride of India. The tribal community of Tripura has maintained a beautiful amalgamation of democracy and tradition.

The President said that living in harmony with nature is the specialty of tribal society. Most of the area of Tripura is rich in forest resources. In preserving this invaluable forest wealth, the natural lifestyle of the tribal society has played an important role.

Tripura was on the top place in achieving the target of ‘Responsible Consumption and Production’, included in the Sustainable Development Goal –12 during the year 2020-21, said Murmu and added that Tripura is one of the two states that generate the least plastic waste.

Tripura is a power-surplus state and it exports electricity to Bangladesh and the connectivity between Bangladesh and India has increased with the construction of ‘Maitri Setu’ over Feni River, said President and added that at the same time, it has become convenient for the entrepreneurs of Tripura to use the ports of Chittagong and Ashuganj.

From the very beginning, Tripura has played a major role in deepening India's friendship with Bangladesh, said Murmu and expressing happiness added that Tripura is making steady progress as an educational hub. She said that many institutions of higher and professional education are established in the state, where students from not only the North Eastern region but also from other parts of India and abroad come for education. She was also happy to note that Tripura has achieved the target of 100 percent enrollment at the level of elementary education.

Appreciating the artistic craft made by bamboo by thousands of bamboo artisans of the state, the President said that the government is taking holistic steps to improve the socio-economic status of tribes including tea-garden workers.

Earlier, the President visited Albert Ekka War Memorial in Agartala and paid homage to brave soldiers who made the supreme sacrifice in the line of duty during the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation war.