Fog and dust merge into a gray haze as vehicles jolt along the uneven road toward the mountain peak. Every bump seems to echo the hardships of life here. At the summit of Shakhanatang hill lies Unakoti ADC Village, home to about 150 families spread across six hamlets: Tailengbari, Jayanbari, Barashichhara, Dhatuchhara, Lakshmichhara, and Madhuwal Para. The majority belong to the Halam community, with smaller populations of Darlong, Khasi, and Orang.

Inside a small mud house with a tin roof, Joylan Halam and his family share a single portion of rice among three people. There are no vegetables. “There has been no work for the past two days,” he says, explaining why even basic food is hard to come by. Outside, villagers return from the forest carrying vegetables and a few flower brooms in a kharang (carrying frame), which will fetch only ₹100–150 at the Kailashahar market.

Education and employment offer little relief. A young man who graduated with a BA in 2019 sits beside his auto-rickshaw, waiting for passengers. He recounts failed job interviews and mounting debts after taking a loan to buy the rickshaw. Repaying it has become a daily struggle, forcing him to work long hours just to survive. Meanwhile, women walk long distances to fetch water from distant sources because a pipeline recently laid in the village carries no water.

Agriculture, once a minor supplement, is now the mainstay. Villagers have returned to jhum cultivation on a larger scale than before and also grow betel nut and coffee. Yet, even with these crops, families struggle to cover basic expenses, including children’s education. The village’s only primary school is run by a single teacher, leaving families with no choice but to send their children to hostels or rented homes in Kailashahar—an added financial burden they can barely afford.

The situation is worsened by allegations of corruption and mismanagement. Residents claim that although 59 days of MGNREGA work were recorded in the village this financial year, they received work for only 12 days. The rest of the wages, they say, were siphoned off by local leaders of the BJP and TIPRA Motha. Even the wages for the 12 days of actual labor were paid in three installments. No other government work is available, leaving livelihoods precarious.

Villagers recount their daily routines with quiet endurance. Sansabati Reang and Congressjoy Halam, returning from the forest with vegetables, speak of bundling banana pith and flower brooms to sell at the market, where prices are low and sales unpredictable. They keep going, step by step, despite exhaustion.

During a recent visit by former ADC Chief Executive Member Radhacharan Debbarma, villagers voiced frustration that the ruling alliance pays little attention to their survival. Betel leaf gardens are being destroyed by pests without assistance, jhum cultivation receives no support, and even Forest Department work is claimed by local leaders. Infrastructure projects, started under the Left Front government—roads, plantations, electricity, and schools—are now stalled or inadequately maintained. They alleged that BJP and TIPRA Motha leaders appropriate a share of MGNREGA work, and in some cases, take over entire Forest Department projects.

“During the Left Front government, there was work, income, and support,” residents say. “Now, there is nothing. Everything is being destroyed.” Life in Unakoti Village is a daily struggle against hunger, poverty, and neglect—a stark reminder of how development remains out of reach for the hill communities of Tripura.

Amit Shah Advocates Strengthening Hindi; Opposition Vows to Resist

Reflecting the vision of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) of “Hindi-Hindu-Hindustan,” the joint regional official language conference for the eastern, northeastern, and northern regions concluded in Agartala on the eve of International Mother Language Day. Union Home Minister Amit Shah delivered a strong message promoting Hindi, which critics said ignored India’s cultural and linguistic plurality. Opponents described the discussions as contrary to the foundational principles of the Indian Constitution.

The conference was organized at the indoor hall of the International Fair Ground in Hapania and inaugurated by Amit Shah, who lit the ceremonial lamp in the presence of Chief Minister Manik Saha and the state’s three Members of Parliament. Over 3,000 delegates from across India attended the event, which also featured exhibition stalls showcasing regional cultures and languages.

In his 24-minute address, the Home Minister stressed that Hindi, as India’s official language, must be strengthened. He emphasized that in Tripura, Hindi should advance alongside Bengali and Kokborok in official work. He further highlighted that the eight northeastern states are home to more than 400 regional languages and advocated for adopting the Devanagari script for tribal languages. Without naming the Tipra Motha Party, an ally of the Bharatiya Janata Party, he indicated that despite differing opinions on script issues, Devanagari should be accepted. He argued that the identity of tribal languages cannot be represented through foreign scripts.

The Home Minister arrived at Maharaja Bir Bikram Airport around 4 p.m., with heightened security arrangements from the airport to Amtali. Personnel from the Tripura State Rifles (TSR) and other security agencies were deployed early in the morning. Journalists and invited guests were required to enter the indoor hall by noon, and many reportedly faced delays. Throughout the day, complaints emerged about limited tea arrangements and the shortage of drinking water during the afternoon break, causing considerable inconvenience to attendees.

On the eve of International Mother Language Day, Jitendra Choudhury secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)), strongly condemned what he termed an unconstitutional aggression. Reacting sharply to the Union Home Minister’s speech, he said that any attempt to assert dominance over the country’s cultural and linguistic diversity would be firmly resisted. He further stated that the Home Minister’s remarks undermined India’s unity and integrity. “We strongly condemn this and will resist such measures,” he asserted.

The Indian National Congress also criticized the Home Minister’s stance, echoing concerns over threats to India’s linguistic plurality.

Jitendra Choudhury, state secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)), strongly condemned the Home Minister’s remarks, calling them an attack on India’s unity and integrity. “We strongly condemn this and will resist such measures,” he asserted. The Indian National Congress also criticized the stance, while the BJP, led by the RSS, remained the only major party supporting the proposals.

Critics argued that the event represented an attempt to advance the RSS ideology of “Hindu-Hindi-Hindustan” on the eve of International Mother Language Day, drawing sharp opposition from regional political leaders who advocate for India’s linguistic diversity.