Agartala

Tripura Chief Minister Prof. Dr. Manik Saha on Thursday said children in the state are as talented and creative as those anywhere in the country, and have brought laurels to Tripura by excelling at the national level across various fields. He added that the government is committed to providing every possible facility to nurture the abilities of young students.

Dr. Saha was speaking after inaugurating the State Level Inter-School Band Competition 2025 at the Umakanta English Medium Higher Secondary School playground in Agartala. Calling band performance an integral part of sports, he said such activities cultivate discipline, patience and teamwork among children.

“These qualities not only make them good performers but also help shape them into good human beings capable of leading successful lives. Creative pursuits strengthen students as they move ahead and teach them to navigate difficult situations,” he said.

The Chief Minister described the band competition as a celebration of discipline, unity, teamwork and creativity. He said the enthusiasm and performances of students have enhanced Tripura’s reputation in cultural and team-based activities.

“Winning a prize is not the most important thing; participating at such a platform is itself worthy of appreciation,” he remarked.

Dr. Saha also noted that inter-school band competitions have been organised nationwide since 2017 under the Union Ministry of Education’s initiative after Prime Minister Narendra Modi assumed office, with Tripura hosting them since 2019. Encouraging students to engage in creative activities like sports, music, drama and band alongside academics, he said such participation contributes to society’s overall progress.

Special Secretary of the Education Department Raval Hemendra Kumar, Director of Secondary Education N.C. Sharma, State Project Director of Samagra Shiksha Rajiv Dutta, SCERT Director L. Darlong, and other dignitaries were present on the occasion.

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Ten teams from seven schools took part in the competition. The winning team will represent Tripura at the zonal band competition in Ranchi.