The Government of Tripura, has signed a MOU agreement with Digital India Bhashini Division (DIBD) of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Government of India, under the esteem guidance of Hon'ble Chief Minister Prof. Dr. Manik Saha, marking a significant milestone in the state's efforts to  increase the usage of the rich regional languages of Tripura and to facilitate citizen’s digital participation by using these languages in governance.

The MOU signing ceremony was held at Pragna Bhavan in Agartala, during a State Level Workshop- ‘Bhashini Rajyam”  which was inaugurated  by Shri Pranajit Singha Roy, Hon'ble IT Minister of Tripura, in presence of  Shri Kiran Gitte, Secretary IT, Government of Tripura,   Shri Amitabh Nag, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), DIBD, MeitY  and  Shri Jeya Ragul Geshan B, Director IT, Government of Tripura. Bhashini is a revolutionary initiative under the Digital India program, to ensure seamless communication and internet accessibility for all Citizens in 22 Indian languages. With Voice as a medium, Bhashini aims to bridge digital as well as the literacy divides.

The workshop outlined Bhashini's vision for Digital Inclusivity, showcasing its software capabilities such as real-time translation, speech-to-text, text-to-speech, and voice-to-voice translation between Indian Regional Languages and English. It highlighted the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Natural Language Processing (NLP) for high accuracy translations and emphasized the State's, DIBD’s roles and responsibilities in the mission. Additionally, strategies for promoting regional languages on digital platforms and software applications for the Government of Tripura were discussed to reduce the digital divide and increase inclusivity for diverse linguistic communities in Tripura.

Currently many citizens of Tripura face challenges due to language barriers, especially those in rural and tribal areas who struggle with software systems in English or Hindi. Bhashini can integrate with existing systems like the CM Helpline, eVidhan, Kisan Sahayata App and e-Districts to enable multilingual communication. It can enhance local governance through apps like Amar Sarkar and improve education with multilingual technologies. Bhashini can also support the CCTNS Platform by translating FIRs and enabling voice-based data entry. Bhashini would reduce the digital divide by easing access to Internet in regional and local languages of Tripura.

Tripura proudly stands as the first north-eastern state, the first in eastern India, and the eighth state in the country to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Bhashini. This pioneering step underscores Tripura's commitment to digital inclusivity and leveraging technology for enhanced citizen centric governance. Tripura's initiative places it among pro-Citizen states that have conducted focused workshops on Bhashini, with only four other states having taken similar steps before.

Integrating Bhashini into Tripura's e-Governance software will bridge the digital divide, providing cost-effective translations, promoting inclusive policy implementation, and enhancing regional identity. This MOU marks a pivotal step in ensuring the seamless integration of Bhashini with Tripura's governance systems. Supported by the Digital India Bhashini Division (DIBD) of MeitY, this initiative empowers citizens by eliminating language barriers and enabling multilingual access to essential services. Implementing Bhashini will further unify Tripura’s linguistic diversity, fostering a more inclusive and connected society.

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Dharmendra Tewari/Kshitij Singha