Agartala, September 19: A single mother from South Tripura who expanded her construction-material business through successive MUDRA loans from Tripura Gramin Bank (TGB) has emerged as an example of grassroots entrepreneurship highlighted by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
During a national-level interaction with beneficiaries of the Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana, Sitharaman referred to the journey of Bulti Debnath Datta of Maheshpur in Belonia, whose small manufacturing unit grew with financial assistance from TGB.
“Look at Tripura Gramin Bank,” Sitharaman said, praising the regional rural bank for supporting entrepreneurs through what she described as “imaginative, innovative ways” beyond conventional business models.
Bulti and her husband established a cement and rod-based manufacturing unit in 2017. Two years later, she obtained a Rs 3 lakh loan from TGB. After repaying the loan, she secured another Rs 3 lakh in 2023 as the business expanded.
With rising demand, she approached the bank again and received a Rs 7 lakh loan under the Tarun category of the MUDRA scheme in 2024.
The additional capital helped Bulti increase production, employ five workers and purchase a delivery vehicle. Her enterprise now supplies RCC pillars, filters and ventilators to development projects across 10–12 panchayats in Hrishyamukh block, including works undertaken under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).
Bulti is currently running the enterprise as a single mother while supporting her two daughters and in-laws. She credited TGB and the Government of India’s financial support for helping her expand the business and sustain her family.
Sitharaman said Bulti’s experience demonstrated how institutional credit could help women entrepreneurs enter sectors that are traditionally viewed as unconventional for women, including construction-material manufacturing.
She also underlined the role of regional rural banks in promoting entrepreneurship at the grassroots level, saying institutions such as TGB were contributing beyond lending targets by helping create livelihoods and expand small businesses.
“I want to extend my sincere appreciation to Tripura Gramin Bank,” Sitharaman said.
Tripura Gramin Bank, sponsored by Punjab National Bank, is among the Regional Rural Banks operating in the state. The Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana provides collateral-free institutional credit to micro enterprises. Under its Tarun category, eligible borrowers can access loans ranging from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 10 lakh.
Bulti’s journey was highlighted during the interaction as an illustration of the broader objective of the MUDRA scheme—to connect small entrepreneurs with formal credit, enable business expansion and support livelihood generation at the local level.
