Situated along the Indo-Bangladesh border area, between West Tripura and Khowai Districts, Kambhukcherra Village was once severely affected by militancy.
Most people in the village are engaged in agriculture, pig rearing or collecting firewood and eatables from the forest for a living.
With the return of peace, the remote tribal village has been witnessing rapid development.
The implementation of several welfare schemes, like the MGNREGA and the Indira Awaz Yojana, has improved the living standard of the people. The government has also been providing irrigation facilities to the people. The villagers now have access to electricity and clean drinking water.
Sachindra Debbarma, a villager, said: "We are now living peacefully, children are going to schools, roads have improved and everything is developing for our betterment. We have electricity and drinking water as well. We are living peacefully."
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MGNREGA has transformed the lives of the people, who used to be solely dependent on agriculture, by providing them an additional source of income.
Through the scheme, permanent assets like roads, water bodies and market places have also been constructed. Several bridges have been constructed to improve connectivity and new road projects are in the pipeline.
Anita Debbarma, a MGNREGA worker, said: "We are the poor people of the village and we are working under MGNREGA, which has helped a lot in our development. With the money we earn, we educate our children and meet other expenses of our family."
The improving socio-economic situation of the village has also motivated the villagers to educate their children.
Earlier, due to the threat from insurgents, teachers and students used to be scared of going to school. However, with the return of peace as well as the implementation of Sarva Siksha Abhiyan and Mid Day meal scheme, dropouts have decreased considerably.
Student Parbati Notia said: "We get free text books, copies, dress, shoes and mid-day meal at school, and it is a great benefit."
Pralladh Debbarma, a teacher, said: "Now we have got various development projects like Sarva Siksha and the situation is improving. In education, the scenario of the students, and possibility of getting work under various central government projects, has improved."
A prolonged period of insurgency had hindered the growth and progress of the region. However, with the decline of insurgency in states like Tripura, socio-economic development has gained momentum. And the people are now hopeful of a better future.
