Agartala, March 21 (NationPress) Tripura's Chief Minister Manik Saha stated on Friday that the state government is committed to ensuring that students' futures are not jeopardized and will swiftly address the tribal Kokborok language script issue.

The Chief Minister made this announcement during the first day of a week-long budget session, emphasizing that the government is thoroughly examining the Kokborok language script situation and is dedicated to finding a resolution promptly.

“We have engaged in extensive discussions, and numerous dialogues have taken place regarding this matter. We questioned the rationale behind using the Roman script and not the Devanagari script for writing in the Kokborok language. While many discussions have occurred, a definitive decision has yet to be reached. Over the years, there have been several protests and agitations. The leadership has also consulted with me on this matter. According to the recent tripartite agreement, this script issue is included, and discussions are currently in progress,” Saha informed the House.

Reiterating that the current government is solution-oriented, he stated: “We must weigh the advantages and disadvantages of this issue. We will address it.

“We honor all communities, customs, and languages. Our aim is to arrive at a definitive resolution. In this year’s CBSE exams, approximately 1,412 students registered, 1,339 participated, and 73 were absent. If the invigilators comprehend the language, students will not encounter any problems. Nevertheless, we will not jeopardize students' futures. We will implement measures to ensure they face no difficulties,” he added.

Meanwhile, on the same day, a prominent tribal student body -- Twipra Students' Federation (TSF) -- conducted a day-long protest advocating for the adoption of the Roman script for the tribal Kokborok language, disrupting the main VIP road leading to the Agartala Airport, Legislative Assembly, Civil Secretariat, High Court, and other governmental establishments.

This demonstration coincided with the inaugural day of the Tripura Assembly's budget session, amplifying their long-standing demand for script reform for the Kokborok language.

Numerous tribal students and youth assembled at key junctions, severely impacting traffic flow and chanting slogans supporting their cause.

The protest resulted in significant traffic delays as law enforcement struggled to clear the blocked routes.

In a media interaction, TSF leader James Debbarma claimed that their request for the Roman script for the Kokborok language has been overlooked for over five decades, despite repeated promises from various governments.

He criticized the state government for failing to acknowledge the preferences of a substantial segment of the indigenous community, who consider the Roman script more user-friendly than the Bengali script presently utilized in official documents and education.

Referencing the establishment of Bangladesh and the imposition of Urdu over Bengali script, the TSF leader stated that the state government has repeatedly neglected the aspirations of indigenous populations.

"The Roman script is predominantly used among Kokborok speakers, and we will not relent until our demands are fulfilled," declared the TSF leader at the protest site.