Bikram Bahadur Jamatia received in field of Social work
Agency
AGARTALA / NEW DELHI, March 22 2023: The President of India Smt. Droupadi Murmu conferred Padma Shri to Shri Narendra Chandra Debbarma (Posthumous) in field of Public Affairs, and Shri Bikram Bahadur Jamatia in field of Social Work from Tripura in Civil Investiture Ceremony at New Delhi Wednesday.
A brief citation about the life and work of two awardees from Tripura.
Narendra Chandra Debbarma (Posthumous) has been conferred Padma Shri in field of Public Affairs. Debbarma, the President of the Indigenous Peoples Front of Tripura (IPFT), was a well-known politician.
Born on August 28 1942 in Khowai District of Tripura, Debbarma completed graduation from University of Calcutta in the year 1962. He did Government Service in the Food & Civil Supplies Department and All India Radio. He retired as Station Director, All India Radio, Agartala, on 31st August 2002. During his govt. service life, he was associated with Tripura Tribal Employees Association also known as “Tripura Upajatikarmachari Samiti”, an Affiliated Organization of All India Federation of SC & ST, Backwards and Minorities Employees Welfare Association of New Delhi. He served as President of the “Tripura Upajatikarmachari Samiti”and actively participated for the welfare of Tribal Karmacharis. 
Debbarma was also a writer and wrote several books on Central govt. concern of illegal land acquisition and its direction to state govt. of Tripura Autonomous State as per Article 244(A) of constitution and why it is necessary, Towards Greater Autonomy, Takhumsabodol (Balaka) -a translation of Rabindranath Tagore Balaka poems in Kokborok Language, Koklam (A handbook of spoken Kokborok) published by Directorate of Research, Department of Welfare for Sch. Tribes and Sch. Castes, Government of Tripura, Role of folk literature and culture in human civilization as a contribution of write up for Centenary Celebration of Kokborok language of the state held during December 22 to 24 2000. He also contributed in publishing of Book on Customary laws of the Tripuris, Jamatia, Mogs and Reangs of Tripura with special reference to their land holding system as a Research Officer.
After retirement, Debbarma also served as Addl. Chief Executive Officer, Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC). In 2008 he contested State Assembly Election from 18 Charilam (ST) Assembly Constituency from Indigenous Nationalist Party Of Tripura (INPT) party but lost the election. In 2009 he floated a new tribal party namely Indigenous Peoples Front of Tripura (IPFT) with new vision and Ideology of “Tripura Land” constituting the TTAADC area, a separate state for better governance and development of Indigenous peoples of Tripura residing mostly in TTAADC areas. In the year 2018, under his leadership BJP & IPFT Alliance Government in Tripura was formed. In the new government he was sworn in as State cabinet Minister of Revenue and later on also given the portfolio of Forest Minister. He was Minister from March 9 2018 to January 1 2023.
He was easily accessible to public and served for betterment of every section of the society and people of Tripura. Narendra Chandra Debbarma passed away on January 1 2023.
The second recipient of Padma Shri is Bikram Bahadur Jamatia. He was conferred the award for his work in the field of Social Work.
Bikram Bahadur Jamatia, retired Under Secretary, Government of Tripura, former Okra, Jamatia Hoda (Community Chief of Jamatia Community) & Founder President, Janajati Faith & Culture protection Forum, Social Service is known for his works for tribal communities of North East India.
Born on October 1 1939 Jamatia joined in Government Service as Tribal Colony Supervisor. Later he joined in Civil Secretariat service in the year 1967, where he formed Tribal Employees organization known as TUKS (Tripura Upajati Karmachari Samiti). He retired from service in 1997 as Under Secretary. Just a month later he was selected as Okra (Community Chief) of Jamatia Hoda (Community).
Jamatia found that extremist in the area had destroyed peaceful community system. He formed thousands of community volunteer force to counter terrorism. He was provided with personal security by Government. In the long run extremists were compelled to leave Tripura & took shelter in Bangladesh and to surrender to the Government. His five years tenure of Community Chief was a great achievement and appreciated by all concerned quarters.
By dint of these activities there was a call from all Janajati leaders of North East seven sister state to form a united organization to restore Janajaties faith & culture. Accordingly, an organization named "Janajati Faith & Culture protection forum was formed in 2002. He became founder president of the forum. The activities of the forum spread all over North East state of Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram raising a slogan "Jagta Purbanchal" promising to restore Janajaties faith & culture. In 2006 in Guwahati in Nehru Stadium in a gathering of historic movement from December 24 to 28 2006, a declaration was made that all Janajaties customary laws to be enacted in all 6th scheduled areas of District Council. Accordingly, Janajati forum activities are going on.
Jamatia has been honoured with many awards such as Janajati Krantikari Samman given by Punbanchal Kalyan Ashram Kalkata & Howrah Mahanagar (2001), World Council of Ancient Tradition & Culture - by ICCS, Nagpur (2003), Prestigious VKIC Samman (2004), NR works Samman by ABVKA Golden Jubillee function (2004), 11th Baurao Deorash Samman (2006), Guruji Puruskar (2008), Uttar Purba Bharat Gyan Gyapan Govesana Kendra (2013), My Home India ONE India Award (2015) and National Integration Award (2018) and Pandit Dindayal Upadhyay Award of Tripura (2018).
https://indigenousherald.com/