DA Editorial | dhruba deka
With the rains behind us and the festive season in full swing, the tourist season in Tripura is about to begin. The state has much to offer: the grand Ujjayanta Palace in Agartala, the lake palace of Neermahal at Melaghar, the ancient rock carvings of Unakoti, the Tripura Sundari temple at Udaipur, and the green stretches of Sepahijala and Jampui Hills. Few states in the Northeast combine royal history, religious heritage, tribal culture and natural beauty so compactly. Yet tourism remains a modest contributor to the state’s economy.
The reasons are not hard to find. Access remains the first obstacle. Visitors from outside the region face long journeys, limited flight options and uncertain road conditions. Once they arrive, many find that sites lack basic facilities: clean toilets, clear signage, reliable transport between attractions and decent, affordable stays. Promotion is patchy, and Tripura rarely features in the itineraries sold by major travel operators.
Local communities are the key to changing this. Homestays run by families, guided heritage walks led by trained local youth, and markets selling handloom and bamboo crafts can ensure that tourism spending reaches ordinary households rather than a few large operators. Tribal culture, in particular, should be presented with respect and consent, not as a spectacle.
Conservation must keep pace with promotion. Fragile monuments such as Unakoti and Neermahal need careful maintenance, and crowd management so that popularity does not become damage. Waste disposal and protection of forests and wildlife areas should be built into every tourism plan.
The government can help by packaging circuits that link heritage, nature and festivals, improving connectivity with Bangladesh-bound and domestic routes, and using digital platforms for booking and information. A steady, well-managed tourist flow can create jobs for thousands.
Tripura does not need to invent attractions. It needs to present, protect and promote what it already has.
Editorial 2
Health Care Must Reach the Last Hamlet: Tripura’s Remote Areas Cannot Wait
A state’s health system is judged not by its showpiece hospitals but by how it treats the person living farthest from them. In Tripura, with its hilly terrain, scattered tribal settlements and seasonal flooding, the distance between a patient and a doctor can be measured not only in kilometres but in hours of difficult travel.
The state has made progress in expanding primary health centres, immunisation and institutional deliveries, and government schemes have extended insurance coverage to many families. But reports from remote areas regularly point to the same gaps: vacant posts of doctors and specialists, shortages of medicines and diagnostic equipment, and ambulances that struggle to reach villages after rain. Pregnant women and the elderly are the most affected, often forced to travel long distances to Agartala for care that should be available closer to home.
Human resources are the heart of the problem. Doctors and nurses are reluctant to serve in isolated postings without housing, security, career incentives and reliable connectivity. Better allowances, fixed rotation policies and recognition for rural service could help. Training local youth as community health workers, paramedics and technicians can also fill gaps, while building trust within tribal communities.
Technology offers practical help. Telemedicine links between district hospitals and remote health centres can provide specialist advice without forcing patients to travel. For this to work, health centres need dependable power and internet, which cannot be taken for granted in hill areas.
Attention must also go to preventive care. Malnutrition, anaemia, malaria and waterborne diseases remain persistent threats in vulnerable communities, and awareness campaigns in local languages can make a real difference.
Finally, transparency matters. Publishing district-wise data on staffing, medicine availability and outcomes would let citizens hold the system to account.
Good health should not depend on a person’s address. Reaching the last hamlet is not just a policy goal. It is a basic promise to every citizen.
Editorial 3
Digital Arrest and Online Fraud: Awareness Is Our Best Firewall
India’s rapid digital growth has brought convenience to millions, from instant payments to online services. It has also created fertile ground for fraudsters. Among the most alarming trends are scams in which criminals pose as police officers, customs officials or investigators, frighten victims with false claims of legal trouble, and pressure them into transferring money. The so-called digital arrest, in which a victim is kept on a video call under threat, shows how psychological manipulation has become as dangerous as technical hacking.
These crimes thrive on fear, urgency and ignorance. Victims include educated professionals as well as retirees and small business owners. Shame often keeps them from reporting, which allows the criminals to move on to the next target. The money is usually moved quickly through multiple accounts, making recovery difficult.
The first line of defence is public awareness. Citizens must know a simple truth: no genuine agency conducts arrests or investigations over video calls, nor demands payment to settle a case. Anyone receiving such a call should disconnect, speak to family and verify through official channels. Banks, telecom companies and local administrations should run regular campaigns in simple language, including regional languages, to reach people beyond big cities.
Institutions must also act faster. Banks need stronger systems to flag unusual transfers and freeze suspicious accounts quickly. Telecom operators should crack down on fake SIM cards and spoofed numbers. Police cyber cells require adequate staff, training and technology, along with smoother coordination across states, because fraud networks operate across borders and jurisdictions.
Platforms and technology companies share responsibility too, as scam calls and messages often travel through their services.
Reporting should be easy and judgement-free. The national cyber crime helpline and portal must be widely known, and early reporting can improve the chances of recovering funds.
Technology will keep advancing, and so will those who abuse it. A citizen who pauses, questions and verifies is the strongest firewall a digital society can have.