AGARTALA, June 18 (TIWN): The border trade between India and Bangladesh has come as a boon to the people in land-locked Tripura, who were at a disadvantageous position compared to people in other states when it comes to availability of goods.

With the second of its kind set up in Tripura earlier this month at Tripura Sepahijala District, a section of people moved forward with a demand to set up border haat at their region with an aim to enhance employment generation.

Tripura Minister for Industry and Commerce Tapan Chakraborty informed that the state government is planning to take an initiative for setting up more border haat. He said, “No final decision has been taken yet but very shortly a meeting would be held in this regard.”

Adding to that Chakraborty expressing displeasure over the role of central government said due to the cut in several centrally sponsored scheme fund the state government has been facing several hurdles implementing the schemes here in Tripura. “Therefore the state government here would have to set up border haat on priority basis without any central assistance,” Charaborty said.

Besides, it is worthy to mention here that Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju recently said that all Northeastern states will soon have at least one Integrated Check Post (ICPs) along the international border that will soon be called as 'Landport'.

However, not only availability of goods, the enhanced border trade has led to employment generation as well. The objective of setting up of such markets on the border to encourage selling and buying of locally produced goods.

Border haat which enables local trade and increase people to people contact also helps to promote the well being of the people in areas which are difficult access across the border of the two countries through establishing a traditional system of marketing local products.

The second border haat began operations at the Indo-Bangladesh border at Kamalasagar in the Sipahijala district. Twenty five vendors from both countries will be able to sell their produces within the five kilometre radius of the haat on market day, which will be observed on every Thursday.

No local taxes would be imposed on the items to be sold in the haats and currencies of both the countries will be accepted. Altogether four border haats are scheduled to be constructed in Tripura.

This is despite the fact that there is a huge trade imbalance between the two countries in favour of India. However, the picture is totally different when it comes to trade between Tripura and Bangladesh. Bangladesh exported goods worth Rs 342.65 crore to Tripura last year, while it imported goods worth just Rs 0.41 crore only.