Tripura launches TRESP Model Village Programme to boost tribal development through community-driven planning, inter-departmental convergence, and World Bank–supported rural transformation, aiming for inclusive growth and sustainable livelihoods across tribal blocks statewide.
Tripura has taken a significant step toward inclusive and sustainable rural development with the launch of the Model Village Programme under the World Bank–funded Tripura Rural Economic Growth and Service Delivery Project (TRESP). The initiative aims to transform tribal villages through structured, community-driven planning that integrates economic growth, service delivery, and social empowerment.
The Model Village Programme is designed to address long-standing development gaps in tribal regions by promoting participatory governance, inter-departmental convergence, and locally tailored solutions. At its core, the initiative seeks to ensure that development planning reflects the socio-economic realities, cultural strengths, and future aspirations of tribal communities.
To initiate the programme, the State Institute of Public Administration and Rural Development (SIPARD) has begun a comprehensive three-day Training of Trainers (ToT) workshop on Model Village Development Planning, scheduled from January 20 to February 22. The training has brought together 40 key stakeholders from multiple government departments and grassroots institutions, reflecting a whole-of-government approach to rural transformation.
Participants include officials from TRESP, the Tripura Rural Livelihood Mission (TRLM), Animal Resources Development, Fisheries, Agriculture, and Panchayat departments. The workshop also involves frontline community functionaries such as Pashu Sakhi, Matsya Sakhi, and Krishi Sakhi, who play a crucial role in last-mile service delivery and community mobilization.
Five senior SIPARD resource persons, along with community representatives from five development blocks, are facilitating the training. These master trainers will lead awareness campaigns, participatory planning exercises, and coordination activities at the village level starting February. Their efforts will culminate in the preparation of detailed Village Development Plans (VDPs) in four blocks of West Tripura district and Jampuijala block in Sepahijala district.
During the workshop, deliberations emphasized aligning the Model Village Programme with national flagship initiatives such as the Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan and the Pradhan Mantri Adi Adarsh Gram Yojana. Officials stressed the importance of integrated planning that addresses infrastructure deficits, livelihood opportunities, social services, and environmental sustainability in a cohesive manner.
As part of the pilot phase, intensive capacity building and community engagement will be undertaken in Lefunga, Belbari, Mandai, Hezamara, and Jampuijala blocks. These efforts will lead to the creation of model VDPs that can be replicated across the state. Based on lessons learned from the pilot, the programme is expected to expand to 23 tribal blocks across all eight districts of Tripura, signaling a statewide push for inclusive rural development.
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The programme is being coordinated by Dr. Rajib Malakar, Nodal Officer and Assistant Professor at SIPARD. Overall training design and implementation are being led by Abdur Rahman Choudhury, Training Specialist, with support from Arpita Bhattacharjee, Training Manager. Their leadership is ensuring structured execution, effective monitoring, and strong inter-departmental collaboration.
Officials described the Model Village Programme as a shift away from conventional top-down planning toward a people-centric development model. With strong community participation and institutional support, the TRESP-backed initiative is expected to improve living standards, strengthen local governance, and create a sustainable development roadmap for Tripura’s tribal regions.
