‘Reform Utsav’ to take watershed reforms to the grassroots in Tripura, programme at 16 locations
Published 1 October 2026
Republic Tripura Desk
Agartala: Tripura is set to launch ‘Reform Utsav’ to take recent reforms in the watershed development programme to ordinary people, with the aim of conserving soil and water, raising farm productivity and widening livelihood opportunities in rural areas.
The programme will be publicised through gram sabhas in 9,593 gram panchayats across the country. In Tripura, the first phase covers about 16 gram panchayats under seven watershed projects.
At a press conference at the office of the Tripura State Watershed Management Agency in Lembucherra on Thursday, the agency’s CEO Saradindu Das said ‘Reform Utsav’ will begin on October 2 in coordination with the ‘Sabki Yojana Sabka Vikas’, or People’s Plan Campaign. It is planned to be held at a total of 16 locations at the district and project levels later.
He said the main objective of the watershed development programme is to create water-secure villages through water and soil conservation. Raising agricultural productivity and increasing the incomes and livelihood opportunities of farmers and rural people are also among its key goals.
According to government data, about 3.4 crore hectares of land in the country have come under the watershed programme over the past 12 years. In Tripura, about 32,000 hectares have been covered so far under WDC-PMKSY 2.0.
Following recent reforms, the allocation per hectare has been increased and the project period cut from seven years to five. The allocation has been raised from ₹12,000 to ₹22,000 per hectare in plain areas, and from ₹15,000 to ₹28,000 per hectare in hilly and remote areas.
Beyond water conservation, emphasis is also being placed on quality seeds and saplings, crop diversification, horticulture, agroforestry and farming suited to the local climate. In the hills, ‘springshed’ development around natural springs has been taken up to improve water security.
The aim is to turn watershed development into a broad people’s movement rather than confine it to a government scheme. Actively involving local residents in planning and implementation at the village level is one of the main goals of ‘Reform Utsav’, which is being taken to the grassroots under the idea of “reform from files to life”.
