When we talk about development, it must be inclusive, participatory, and rooted in dignity. In Tripura, this principle is being lived through the remarkable rise of women’s economic participation driven by Self-Help Groups (SHGs) under the Tripura Rural Livelihood Mission (TRLM).

Before 2018, women’s engagement in SHGs was limited in reach and impact. The number of active SHGs was only around 4,000, and access to meaningful income opportunities was restricted to a few. Today, this landscape has transformed significantly. The state now has over 54,000 SHGs, involving nearly 4.85 lakh women in collective economic activities that strengthen both household and community well-being.  

More importantly, Tripura’s SHG movement has given rise to Lakhpati Didis women whose households earn more than ₹100,000 annually through sustainable livelihood activities. The government’s initial target of enabling 1.08 lakh women to achieve this milestone has already been met, and the goal is now raised to 1.35 lakh Lakhpati Didis in the current fiscal year.  Thanks to former Finance Minister and incumbent Governor of Telengna Jishnu Dev Varma, SHG movement in Tripura twist in a new dimension where women folk earned a courage to become entrepreneurs.

This is transformation in the truest sense women are no longer merely participants in savings activities, they are entrepreneurs, producers, and economic leaders. Across rural Tripura, SHG women are engaged in agriculture and allied activities, food processing, handloom and bamboo crafts, dairy and poultry units, and service enterprises. They negotiate with banks, maintain digital accounts, access loans, and participate actively in market linkages. This represents ease of doing business at the grassroots level a concept that is now a lived reality for rural women.

This transformative journey reached a defining milestone when Chief Minister Prof Dr. Manik Saha disbursed Rs 100 crore to 1,00,000 Lakhpati Didis to further strengthen their livelihood activities and scale up enterprises.  

The magnitude and impact of this transformation embody a vision that prioritizes women in the development process. As the Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi frequently states: “नारी शक्ति वंदनम् - when women rise, society rises with them.” 

The story of SHGs in Tripura exemplifies this conviction. Empowered women not only enhance their families' financial status but also contribute socially and morally to their communities. They advocate for education, health, and sanitation, and engage confidently in local governance. Their achievements represent both economic and social triumphs. In a world where development is often quantified, the women of Tripura remind us that true progress is gauged by the confidence it fosters, the dignity it reinstates, and the opportunities it creates. 

As more women attain sustainable income and self-sufficiency, Tripura advances towards its vision of a society where every individual can stand with pride and purpose. 

(The author is BJP State Secretary, Tripura)