In the heart of Kunjaban Gram Panchayat under Udaipur subdivision in Tripura’s Gomati District, a quiet transformation is baking — quite literally.

Manjari Saha, a resident of Uttar Para, once struggled to find her footing in life. But today, she stands tall as a symbol of determination and grassroots entrepreneurship.

For years, Manjari battled to become self-reliant, but opportunities were few and obstacles many. 

Her turning point came three years ago when she joined a local self-help group (SHG), almost as a last resort.

Along with four other women from the group, she set up a small bakery unit under the name Rasmi Mahila Dal, with support from the Matarbari RD Block.

Initially, sales were slow, and profits were meagre. But the group remained undeterred. 

With a financial boost of Rs5 lakh under the Pradhan Mantri Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) scheme, followed by Rs 60,000 under the State Balanced Empowerment Fund (SBEF) scheme, they began producing a range of items — from soft bread and tea-time biscuits to vibrant birthday cakes and sweet pastries.

Today, Manjari’s bakery not only sees a steady stream of customers and profits, but it also provides employment to ten local workers who assist in packaging and distribution. The aroma of fresh bakes now carries the fragrance of hope for many women in the area.

Speaking to us, Manjari shared, “It was not easy in the beginning. But with the support of the SHG and government schemes, we were able to scale up. Now, I’m happy not only because I have become self-reliant, but also because I’ve been able to create job opportunities for others in my community.”