Tripura has entered into a groundbreaking partnership with the prestigious Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Calcutta to launch an ambitious initiative aimed at creating 250 ‘Crorepati Didis’ through women-led enterprises. This initiative, led by the Tripura Rural Livelihood Mission (TRLM), marks a significant step towards empowering women economically in the state.
The TRLM, under the leadership of Chief Executive Officer Tarit Kanti Chakma, has allocated Rs 10.60 crore for a three-year incubation plan to support and nurture rural women entrepreneurs. With technical and strategic assistance from IIM Calcutta, the project aims to help these women-led enterprises achieve crore-level turnovers, thereby transforming their economic status.
Initially planning to create 150 Crorepati Didis, the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) recommended expanding the target to 250 due to Tripura’s commendable progress in empowering women through Self Help Groups (SHGs). Currently, over 4.68 lakh households in the state are associated with 54,263 SHGs, with 1.08 lakh women already earning more than one lakh rupees annually as ‘Lakhpati Didis’.
Interested women entrepreneurs will soon be invited to apply for the programme through local newspaper advertisements, with IIM Calcutta responsible for selecting high-potential candidates. Priority will be given to those already managing SHG enterprises with an annual turnover of Rs 5 lakh or more, although non-SHG members are also encouraged to apply.
Selected participants will undergo capacity-building training, business development planning, credit linkage, and market access support. TRLM will establish specialized incubator cells at the district and block levels to provide continuous monitoring and guidance throughout the incubation process.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between TRLM and IIM Calcutta is expected to be signed soon, solidifying the latter’s role as the incubator partner. With successful women entrepreneurship programmes already implemented in states like West Bengal, Assam, and Bihar, IIM Calcutta is well-equipped to support the growth of women-led enterprises in Tripura.
Officials believe that this project has the potential to revolutionize the livelihoods of rural women in Tripura, promoting self-reliance and serving as a model for other Northeastern states. This partnership between Tripura and IIM Calcutta is a significant step towards fostering women’s economic empowerment and creating a more inclusive and prosperous society.
