BY TC News Desk
Agartala, 31st December 2025: The Information and Cultural Affairs Department in Unakoti district is facing an existential crisis. Severe staff shortages have crippled operations to the point where the office has been reduced, quite literally, to just a signboard.
Once regarded as the government’s mirror for development activities—responsible for disseminating policies, projects, and public welfare programs—the department is now gasping for breath. The most alarming aspect is that the news section has no staff at all. There are no scriptwriters, no journalists.
For years, journalist Manas Ranjan Das handled reporting duties in Kailashahar. Since his retirement in December 2022, no replacement has been appointed. As a result, the dissemination of government news and promotion of development initiatives has come to a standstill.
The crisis deepened further in October when Assistant Director Biswajit Deb retired. His post remains vacant to this day. Currently, the department is run by just two officials: IC Sukanta Malsui in Kailashahar and Senior Information Officer Subhashish Sengupta in Kumarghat, who is burdened with dual charges. Questions are mounting over how a district-level department can function under such circumstances.
Adding to the irony, despite owning land near the old TRTC stand in Kailashahar, the office continues to operate from a rented building in South Kachergat. This has drained thousands of rupees from the state exchequer every month, raising concerns about administrative mismanagement.
The department once organized vibrant cultural programs—boat races at Khaora Beel, water festivals, ghazal competitions, and traditional dance contests like Jhumur and Hojagiri. Events were also held in border villages to promote cultural harmony. Today, those activities are but memories. The office exists in name only, with no work to show.
The situation has been further complicated by allegations of political meddling. After the change of government in 2018, an advisory committee was formed in Kailashahar in 2020. One former left-leaning instrumentalist, now aligned with the ruling party, is accused of dominating the department. Committee members, unwilling to be named, allege that he intimidates officials and misuses authority. Cultural circles are demanding his immediate removal, expressing outrage over his influence.
Despite three key ministers representing Unakoti district, no effective steps have been taken to address the department’s plight. While Kumarghat manages to function with difficulty, Kailashahar’s office is in a deplorable state.
The Information and Cultural Affairs Department is a vital arm of the government. Yet, due to staff shortages, administrative negligence, and a controversial advisory system, its existence in Unakoti is on the verge of collapse. Unless vacant posts are filled, transparency restored, and cultural programs revived, the department risks becoming a mere nameplate.
Artists and culture enthusiasts are now asking one pressing question: Is the government truly interested in saving this department?
