Manik Sarkar used to donate his salary to his party. CM Biplab Deb donates his salary towards cleaning the state

In what can be described as a heartening initiative, Tripura Chief Minister, Biplab Deb has announced that he is going to donate six months’ salary towards ‘Seva Saptah’ to celebrate PM Modi’s birth week. He tweeted from his official handle, “Swacchta hi Seva Hain. We have decided to celebrate Adarniya Shri Narendra Modi Ji’s birthday week as #SevaSaptah & I will donate my next six month’s salary to the 1100 village market committees of #Tripura to install 8/10 dustbins in every village market.” He also said, “I request everyone from all walks of life to join hands in making #Tripura a garbage free state. I would like to appeal to clubs, social organizations and NGOs to put dustbins in their respective areas to maintain the cleanliness of our state. We have to work together in this mission.”

Tripura CM’s current salary is RS. 67,000. Therefore, he would be contributing Rs. 4.02 lakh in the form of donation towards the cause of a garbage free Tripura. In line with its resolve to make Tripura a garbage free state, the Biplab Deb government is also looking to amend The Tripura Shops and Establishment Rules, 1970. Through this amendment, the Tripura government seeks to make an express provision whereby it would be mandatory to keep and maintain dustbin(s) for every shop and establishment in the state registered under the above said Rules. The amendment also seeks to increase the quantum of fines for violation of the said Rules from Rs. 100/- to Rs. 200/-. It also seeks to increase the quantum of fines in case of continued violation from Rs. 25/- per day to Rs. 100/- per day.

It is important to mention here that this is not the first time that the Tripura CM Biplab Deb has taken such a heartening step. Last month, he had donated his one month’s salary towards to a destitute children’s home for girls. This shows his commitment and dedication towards the welfare of the people of the state of Tripura. It must be noted that even CM Biplab Deb’s predecessor, Manik Sarkar, used to donate his entire salary, but to a different cause: his own party, CPI (M)

At the surface it seems that Tripura CM Biplab Deb and his predecessor bear striking similarity as far as donation of salary is concerned. However, in reality and substance, there is a big difference between the two leaders. It is important to bear in mind that while the previous Tripura CM, Manik Sarkar used to donate his monthly salary towards his party’s fund, his party, viz. CPI (M) used to pay him a monthly allowance for his livelihood. On the other hand, the present Tripura CM Biplab Deb has donated his six months’ salary towards the object of a garbage-free Tripura, an initiative which is closely linked to the welfare of the people of the state. While there is nothing objectionable about donating one’s salary towards the party fund, the fact remains that CM Biplab Deb has shown that for him the people and their welfare is his paramount consideration. When it comes to priorities, the people of Tripura figure right at the top for him. He has set a very good precedent by taking a people-centric approach and giving them greater priority than everything else including political affiliation. This is what sets apart CM Biplab and his predecessor. While their act of donating entire salary bears a striking similarity, there is a huge difference in the two personalities in terms of the end purpose for which they donated their salaries.