Agartala, May 29: Minister of State for Tribal Welfare Durgadas Uikey on Friday visited Unakoti district and interacted with women Self-Help Group (SHG) members supported under the Tripura Rural Livelihood Mission (TRLM), highlighting the growing contribution of SHG-led enterprises in strengthening rural livelihoods and promoting women’s empowerment.
During his visit, the Minister inspected the Agarbatti Manufacturing Unit at South Unakoti Village Committee and also toured the District Level Aggregation Centre-cum-Selling Outlet functioning under the Kumarghat Block Mission Management Unit (BMMU).
Officials said the visit focused on reviewing the progress of livelihood initiatives and encouraging women entrepreneurs engaged in small-scale production and marketing activities. Uikey directly interacted with SHG Didis and enquired about their manufacturing processes, product quality, marketing systems, income generation activities and overall entrepreneurial journey.
The SHG members shared their experiences regarding how livelihood initiatives under TRLM have helped improve their financial independence and social participation. Many women also spoke about the challenges they faced in the initial stages and how government support and training helped them establish sustainable income sources.
In a symbolic gesture during the visit, the District Magistrate and Collector of Unakoti presented the Minister with a gift hamper containing locally manufactured products prepared by SHG members. The gesture reflected the achievements of rural women entrepreneurs who are gradually transforming small-scale enterprises into sustainable livelihood opportunities.
Officials noted that the Minister appreciated the efforts of the women-led groups and encouraged them to continue expanding their activities. He reportedly stressed the importance of self-reliance, local production and community participation in strengthening the rural economy.
The administration stated that the interaction served as a morale boost for SHG members and reinforced the government’s commitment to supporting grassroots entrepreneurship and women empowerment through livelihood missions.
The visit also highlighted the broader impact of the Tripura Rural Livelihood Mission in promoting inclusive development across rural areas. Officials expressed hope that such recognition at the national level would inspire more women to participate in SHG activities and further strengthen rural enterprise networks across the state.
The programme concluded with discussions on expanding market opportunities and improving support systems for SHG-based products in the future.
