In a bold move to address what he sees as a growing issue of tax evasion, Tipra Motha Party MLA Ranjit Debbarma has called for the cancellation of Scheduled Tribe benefits for tribal women who marry non-tribal men in Tripura. In a letter to the Chairperson of the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes, Debbarma outlined his concerns about non-tribal men marrying tribal women in order to avoid paying government taxes.
According to Debbarma, non-tribal men are intentionally marrying Scheduled Tribe women to transfer their properties and businesses to their wives’ names, thus evading taxes. He cited examples of grooms in various industries such as petrol pumps, gas agencies, and ration shops registering their businesses under their tribal wives’ names to escape taxation. These couples also allegedly take advantage of government subsidies and purchase land in their wives’ names to avoid paying taxes.
Debbarma also raised concerns about non-tribal men acquiring large plots of land in areas under the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) without paying taxes, leading to deforestation. He claimed that non-tribal men establish gardens, rubber plantations, and run brick kilns in TTAADC areas under such arrangements, all while enjoying tax exemptions in the health sector as well.
The MLA called for urgent action to stop such marriages between non-tribal men and tribal women in Tripura and requested the cancellation of Scheduled Tribe benefits for those who have already entered into such marriages in the state. Debbarma’s letter has sparked a debate among lawmakers and tribal rights activists, with some supporting his call for action while others raising concerns about the potential impact on tribal women who may lose their benefits due to their marital status. The National Commission for Scheduled Tribes is yet to respond to Debbarma’s letter, but the issue is likely to continue to generate discussion and debate in the coming days.
