Agartala, Oct 27 (IANS): The Left Front government in Tripura has decided to create four new districts, six subdivisions and five rural development blocks to take the administration closer to people, Chief Minister Manik Sarkar said here Thursday.
"For rapid socio-economic development of the minorities, tribals, Scheduled Castes and other needy people, the Left Front government is firmly committed to providing basic services to these (disadvantaged) people," Sarkar told reporters.
He said: "From the next statehood day on Jan 21 (next year), the new administrative setups will start functioning."
The main opposition Congress has welcomed the Left government's decision, though it says it is politically motivated.
"Targeting the 2013 assembly elections, the Left Front government after observing that their popularity is declining, has taken this reform measure to lure voters," opposition leader Ratan Lal Nath told reporters.
In the new setup, the number of districts would be raised to eight, and the number of subdivisions and blocks to 23 and 45 respectively.
"Despite the state government's severe financial crisis, the government took this pro-people decision to decentralise governance, take the administration closer to people and provide vital services to them within the quickest possible time," Sarkar said.
According to the chief minister, for beginning the new administrative setup, an additional Rs.6 crore would be required.
After Tripura's statehood Jan 21, 1972, this is the second reform of the administrative setup.