Agartala, May 29: The Tripura CPM?s base among its core supporters, comprising farmers and labourers, has dwindled. This was revealed in a report submitted in the CPM state committee meeting on Friday and Saturday.

The report showed a nine per cent growth in overall membership of the party from 53,836 during the last state conference in 2004 to 58,468 till the submission of the report.

However, there has been a steady decline regarding membership in frontal organisations like the Ganatantrik Nari Samity, the Student Federation of India (SFI), Gana Mukti Parishad (GMP) which is the party?s tribal front organisation, Krishak Sabha ? the agricultural front and the labour arm of Citu.

Membership from the lower echelons of society has not increased by even one per cent.

A source in the state CPM said membership of the women?s front has grown by only one per cent while membership growth in the GMP has declined to less than one per cent all over the state.

?What we are worried about is the lack of growth in the Krishak Sabha and Kshet Mazoor Union, which is the agricultural labourers organisation because the growth is a paltry .27 per cent over the figures shown in the last conference,? he said.

Labourers have been shying away from the party as the membership growth has dropped to less than one per cent.

?This is an ominous signal as new faces continue to join the unorganised labour force daily,? a source said, adding that the party was concerned over the issue.

At least two tribal leaders of the party said the state government?s failure to empower the Autonomous District Council (ADC) for tribals has frustrated them. The tribals form the backbone of the party?s support base in Tripura.

?An idea is gaining ground that the party is not treating tribals well in terms of safeguarding their vital socio-economic and political interests and cultural tradition,? said a senior tribal leader R.K. Debbarma. He stressed on the need for positive action to boost the morale of the tribal supporters of the party, particularly on the sensitive issue of a script for the tribal Kokborok language.

Party secretary Baidyanath Mazumder said a comprehensive strategy would be formed keeping in mind the suggestions of state committee members to regain lost ground.

A source said the state committee members expressed satisfaction over the decline in insurgency but urged the leadership to ensure continued vigil by security forces to wipe out the militants. Problems caused by barbed wire fencing along the state?s 856-km border with Bangladesh were discussed.

Mazumder and chief minister Manik Sarkar said the issue has been taken up with the Union home ministry and a grant of Rs 93 crore has been sought as compensation for families displaced due to border fencing. Sarkar said the matter was being pursued and positive action will soon be taken.