AGARTALA, August 28 (TIWN): All India Democratic Women's Association (AIDWA) on Friday celebrated the Birth Anniversary of Former Minister Dashrath Deb followed by a Mega Blood Donation Camp at Bhati Abhoynagar.

Chief Minister Manik Sarkar inaugurated the programme at Bhati Abhoynagar and pays floral tribute to the portrait of unparallel leader Dasarth Deb and delivered speech remembering his contribution for introducing free education of common masses through Jana shikhsha movement.

Over hundred women came forward and voluntarily donated their blood.

Speaking at the programme, Chief Minister Manik Sarkar said that it is a great opportunity for the women to participate in the social needs of the people and to promote better relation with the people.

He further said that necessary awareness should be made among the people at large to voluntarily come forward and donate blood.

Appreciating the initiatives taken by the women, Sarkar said that no doubt that today the women are coming forward at every field but this initiative has made their community proud.  

Deb was the founder-member of Janashikhsha also called public education movement in Tripura during the royal regime. He was born in the year 1916, died in 1998. He was the first and yet the only tribal CM of Tripura from 1993-98. He fought for tribal rights and became a pioneer in the tribal movement in the Fifties and Sixties.

In 1950, Deb had joined the undivided Communist party and in 1951 and was elected as first party secretary in Tripura. In 1952 he was elected as the MP in Lok Sabha from Tripura. He was re-elected to the LS in 1957, 1962 and 1971.

Dasarath Deb was born at Boltali village in the present day Khowai district of Tripura.