AGARTALA, Aug 28 (TIWN): Discussions on creating state council for tribal-welfare to be progressed one step more as Central Minister for Tribal Affairs Jual Oram has arrived in Tripura on Monday. The Minister was received at Agartala Airport by BJP State Observer Sunil Deodhar and State Party President Biplab Deb and other leaders. Tripura tribal leader Rampada Jamatia also greeted the Tribal Affairs Minister at the State guest house and in the afternoon, Oram to address the press. Oram’s visit is crucial in Tripura as via BJP the Central Govt had asked Jual Oram what is his opinion on the conversion of ADC into State Council.

This initiative was specially taken by BJP leader Jishnu Devbarman and thus Oram’s visit may be a big blow for CPI-M created ADCs, that is claimed by BJP for failed to bring tribal-developments.  However, a meeting is going on at the State Guest House among the BJP state and central leaders.

In the letter given to Jual Oram by Health & Family Welfare for State Faggan Sigh Kulaste on June 24, 2017, he wrote, "The leaders of Janajati Tripura has demanded that the Tribal Autonomous Dist Council will be converted into Tribal Autonomous State Council so as to give more autonomy and to preserve distinguished socio-cultural identity of the indigenous people of Tripura".

In the letter 16 unique criteria were mentioned once ADC turns State Council including 1) Direct funding to the Autonomous  State,  2) Education upto University level, 3) Kokborok to be included in the 8th schedule of the constitution of India, 4) traditional medicine and alternative treatment system research institute for indigenous people etc. However, more demands as Agartala Airport's name to be converted into Maharaja Bir Bikram Manikya Airport, giving highest civilian award of "Bharat Ratna" to Lt. Maharaja Bir Bikram Kishore Manikya etc.

Jual Oram is a member of the 16th Lok Sabha of India. He represents the Sundargarh constituency of Odisha and is a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party. He was also a member of the 12th, 13th and 14th Lok Sabha.