Over 91,000 Lakhpati Didis Emerged in Tripura as Women Empowerment said Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha , highlighting state success in women-led entrepreneurship and rural empowerment.
Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha on Wednesday announced that 91,871 women in the state have achieved the status of ‘Lakhpati Didi’, a term used for Self Help Group (SHG) members whose annual household income has crossed Rs 1 lakh. The announcement marks a major milestone in the state’s drive towards financial independence and entrepreneurship among rural and urban women.
The Chief Minister made the announcement during a function in Agartala, where he also distributed appointment letters to 228 newly recruited government teachers, highlighting the dual emphasis of the government on education and empowerment.
SHGs: A Force for Change in Tripura
Chief Minister Saha stated that out of 5,47,743 women engaged with various Self Help Groups in the state, a substantial portion has successfully transformed their livelihoods by venturing into small-scale businesses, crafts, agriculture, food processing, and other enterprise-driven sectors. These women, now termed Lakhpati Didis, are not just earning more than Rs 1 lakh annually but are also becoming inspirational figures in their communities by promoting sustainable livelihoods and financial independence.
“A Lakhpati Didi is not just a symbol of income growth. She is a role model who has improved her standard of living and become a beacon of hope for others through sustainable practices and skill-based ventures,” Saha said.
The Chief Minister lauded the Tripura Rural Livelihood Mission (TRLM) and the Tripura Urban Livelihood Mission (TULM) for laying the groundwork for this transformation. As per the latest figures:
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53,623 SHGs have been formed under TRLM, involving 4.84 lakh rural women.
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5,941 SHGs have been constituted under TULM, engaging 63,743 urban women.
To support these women-led ventures, the state has so far disbursed Rs 746.80 crore in the form of revolving funds and financial assistance. These funds have enabled SHG members to initiate small businesses across diverse sectors such as handicrafts, poultry, tailoring, organic farming, and food product manufacturing.
Government’s Holistic Approach to Employment
Beyond women empowerment, Chief Minister Saha emphasized that job creation remains a central focus of his government. Since the BJP-led government took charge in March 2018, a total of 17,554 government jobs have been provided. Additionally, 5,700 individuals have been engaged through outsourcing in various departments, while thousands more have found employment through government-sponsored schemes and private sector initiatives.
Saha contrasted the current administration’s recruitment policy with that of previous regimes, asserting that employment was previously granted “along party lines,” whereas the current government prioritizes merit-based and transparent recruitment processes.
|Also Read : Tripura to have 114,000 ‘Lakhpati Didis’ by end of current FY: CM |
Tripura’s Falling Unemployment Rate
One of the most remarkable highlights of the Chief Minister’s address was Tripura’s declining unemployment rate. Citing data from the Union Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation’s Periodic Labour Force Survey, Saha noted:
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In 2018–19, Tripura’s unemployment rate stood at 10%, against the national average of 5.8%.
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As of the latest data, the state’s unemployment rate has dropped to 1.7%, significantly better than the current national average of 3.2%.
“This data reflects that employability in the state has improved drastically,” the Chief Minister said, attributing the success to targeted policies, proactive governance, and the fostering of entrepreneurship through schemes like SHGs.
Building Future-Ready Women Entrepreneurs
The success of Tripura’s ‘Lakhpati Didi’ initiative mirrors the national strategy for inclusive growth, which focuses on empowering women through financial literacy, collective action, access to credit, and vocational training. Under this model, SHG members are not only becoming self-sufficient but are also collaborating across sectors — agriculture, handicrafts, services, and micro-enterprises — to create a robust and diversified rural economy.
The state government is further promoting linkages between SHGs and private enterprises, market access platforms, and digital tools to ensure scalability and long-term sustainability of these ventures.
A Model for Other States
Tripura’s achievements in women’s economic empowerment, job creation, and unemployment reduction present a replicable model for other northeastern and smaller states. As more women continue to rise as entrepreneurs and contributors to the state economy, the Lakhpati Didi movement is likely to gain further momentum — not only as an economic success story but also as a powerful narrative of social transformation.
