On the occasion of Tripura Statehood Day, the state government has announced the names of 16 individuals and institutions who will be honoured with State Civil Awards and Statehood Day Awards for their work and service in different fields. The awards recognise contributions in education, art and culture, science, agriculture, entrepreneurship, sports, and public life. The awards will be formally presented at the state-level Statehood Day function scheduled to be held on January 21 at Rabindra Satabarshiki Bhavan in Agartala. Under the State Civil Awards, the highest civilian honour of the state, Tripura Bibhushan, will be conferred posthumously on eminent educationist Dhirendra Chandra Dutta for his lifelong contribution to the field of education. The Tripura Bhushan award will also be given posthumously to former Speaker of the Tripura Legislative Assembly Biswabandhu Sen. Noted screenplay writer Biplab Goswami, known for his work in the Hindi film Laapata Ladies, will also receive the Tripura Bhushan award.
The Sachin Dev Burman Memorial State Award will be presented to well-known folk artist Surya Kumar Debbarma, popularly known as Sadagar, for his contribution to folk music and culture. The Maharani Kanchanprabha Devi Memorial State Award will be awarded to Champa Das of Kamalghat in West Tripura district. In the field of science and environment, the State Award will be given to Dr Arijit Das, Associate Professor and Head of the Department at Bir Bikram Memorial College, Agartala. Along with the civil honours, the government has also announced several Statehood Day Awards. The Good Citizen Award will be presented to Gautam Das of East Pratapgarh in West Tripura district. Atkalapa Biotechnology LLP of Nagichhara has been selected for the Best Startup Entrepreneur Award. In the agriculture and allied sectors, Dhanbabu Halam of Simbukchak village in Salema area of Dhalai district will receive the Best Entrepreneur Award in agriculture and horticulture. Krishna Debbarma of Mohanbhog in Sepahijala district has been selected for the Best Entrepreneur Award in fisheries, while Ratan Debnath of Bishramganja will be honoured for excellence in the animal husbandry sector.
For contributions in handloom, handicrafts and beekeeping, Uttam Kumar Das of Teliamura in Khowai district will be awarded. Dipak Dutta of Kanchanbari, Fatikroy in Unakoti district has been chosen as the Best Entrepreneur in industrial enterprise. The Best Mobile App Award will go to Satyabrata Biswas of East Jogendranagar in West Tripura district. The Best Cooperative Society Award has been awarded to Tulamura PACS Limited of Gomati district. Lakshman Malakar of Belonia in South Tripura district will be honoured as the Best Educationist, while Shriparna Debnath of Natunnagar has been selected as the Best Sportsperson.
