Tipra Motha Party MLA Ranjit Debbarma on Monday wrote a letter to the Chairperson of the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST), seeking cancellation of all Scheduled Tribe (ST) facilities granted to tribal women of Tripura who marry non-tribals.

In his letter, Debbarma alleged that a section of non-tribal men were intentionally marrying tribal women to illegally avail ST benefits and avoid paying government taxes.

“I would like to draw your kind attention to the fact that a considerable number of non-tribal boys are marrying Scheduled Tribe girls with the intention of escaping legitimate taxes of the government. After marriage, they transfer their properties in the name of their tribal wives only to evade taxes,” the MLA stated.

He further pointed out that many non-tribal grooms, engaged in businesses such as petrol pumps, gas agencies, ration shops, and other institutions, run them in the names of their ST wives to take advantage of subsidies and tax exemptions provided by both the central and state governments.

Debbarma alleged that such practices have also led to large-scale land acquisitions in TTAADC areas through tribal brides, which are then used for rubber plantations, gardening, brick kilns, and other commercial activities, often causing deforestation.

“In every sphere of life, they are misusing government benefits by marrying tribal girls. Even in the health sector, such exemptions are being taken undue advantage of,” he said.

The MLA urged the Commission to take urgent steps to prevent such marriages and to immediately withdraw all ST facilities from tribal women who have married non-tribals in the state.