Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha has raised concerns over a growing trend among IAS officers who fail to return to the state after their central deputation ends.
Saha said that he has formally written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi about the issue, although he did not name any specific officers.
While acknowledging that deputations are a part of normal bureaucratic movement, Saha voiced concern about officers who actively avoid returning to Tripura. “It triggers a problem when they become reluctant to return to the state,” he said. He also pointed to instances where officials “get involved in lobbying indirectly” to extend their stay outside the state.
The issue of bureaucratic retention in northeastern states has long been a challenge, with many officers seeking assignments in metro regions due to better infrastructure and career prospects. Tripura's leadership appears intent on reversing this trend by investing in institutional support and directly raising the matter with the Centre.

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