Agartala, May 18: Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha on Monday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given top priority to the political, social, and economic empowerment of women, and that women-led Self Help Groups (SHGs) are playing a vital role in strengthening Tripura’s rural economy.
Addressing a large gathering of SHG members during a programme organised by the Tripura Rural Livelihood Mission (TRLM) at Rabindra Satabarshiki Bhavan in Agartala, the Chief Minister highlighted the growing contribution of rural women towards the state’s economic development and self-reliance.
Dr. Saha said nearly 70 per cent of Tripura’s population resides in rural areas, making SHGs an important pillar of the rural economy. He stated that the activities carried out by women-led SHGs have significantly contributed to the growth of the state’s Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP). According to him, Tripura currently ranks second among the northeastern states in terms of GSDP growth.
The Chief Minister informed that around 4.95 lakh rural women are associated with 55,569 Self Help Groups spread across rural and interior parts of the state. Through various livelihood and entrepreneurial activities, many women have achieved financial independence and improved their standard of living.
Among the SHG members, as many as 1,08,281 women have emerged as “Lakhpati Didis” — women whose annual household income exceeds Rs 1 lakh. Dr. Saha described this achievement as a major milestone in women’s empowerment and rural development.
He also stated that banks have extended loans worth Rs 2,389 crore to SHGs for livelihood-related activities, while the state government has provided Rs 837 crore as revolving funds and community investment support.
Referring to the vision of “Viksit Bharat” and “Viksit Tripura” by 2047, the Chief Minister stressed that the joint participation of both men and women would be essential for achieving inclusive growth.
Dr. Saha further said the state government has launched various initiatives, including Samriddhi 1.0 and 2.0 and Integrated Farming Clusters (IFCs), to strengthen rural livelihoods and improve market access for farmers and SHG members across Tripura.
