Agartala, 17th August 2026 : Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) MDC Rajeshwar Debbarma has appealed to Chief Minister Prof. Dr. Manik Saha to reconsider the reported move to discontinue the Permanent Resident of Tripura Certificate (PRTC) as a requirement for state government employment.
In a letter to the Chief Minister, Debbarma called for a comprehensive domicile policy to safeguard the interests of indigenous communities and permanent residents while ensuring that local youth are not disadvantaged in government recruitment.
Debbarma maintained that the PRTC has traditionally been recognised as an important document establishing domicile in Tripura and has played a role in protecting employment opportunities for permanent residents of the state.
He referred to the ongoing legal proceedings before the Tripura High Court and the reported proposal to replace the PRTC requirement with a criterion requiring candidates to have studied continuously in Tripura for five years.
Questioning the adequacy of the proposed criterion, the MDC argued that merely studying in the state for five years does not necessarily establish permanent domicile. He expressed concern that such a provision could potentially benefit temporary residents while failing to adequately protect those who have a longstanding connection with Tripura.
Debbarma also highlighted the difficulties faced by students from economically weaker and remote indigenous families, many of whom have to leave Tripura for education. He said such students should not be placed at a disadvantage simply because they pursued their studies outside the state.
Emphasising Tripura’s limited government employment opportunities, the MDC said the state needs a clear and legally sustainable framework to protect the interests of its permanent residents.
He proposed that the government formulate a comprehensive Tripura Domicile Actinstead of simply discontinuing the PRTC system. According to him, such legislation could provide a clearer legal framework for determining domicile and eligibility for state government employment.
Debbarma urged the Chief Minister to keep the reported decision to discontinue the PRTC requirement in abeyance until an alternative policy is finalised. He also sought the formation of a high-level committee comprising legal experts, academicians, representatives of indigenous organisations and other stakeholders to prepare a comprehensive domicile and employment policy.
He further requested the government to introduce suitable legislation in the Tripura Legislative Assembly to provide statutory backing to the rights and interests of indigenous people and permanent residents in public employment.
The MDC appealed for urgent intervention, stating that the issue has significant implications for the employment prospects of Tripura’s youth and the protection of the interests of permanent residents.
