Tripura CM Saha: Modi prioritises women's empowerment, 1.08 lakh Lakhpati Didis created
Synopsis
Over 1.08 lakh rural women in Tripura have crossed the ₹1 lakh annual income threshold as Lakhpati Didis — out of 4.95 lakh SHG members — backed by ₹2,389 crore in bank loans and ₹837 crore in state funds. CM Manik Saha's address in Agartala puts a number on what Modi's women-empowerment push looks like at the state level.
Key Takeaways
Tripura CM Manik Saha addressed SHG members in Agartala on 18 May , crediting PM Modi with prioritising women's empowerment.
More than 4.95 lakh rural women are enrolled in 55,569 SHGs across Tripura.
1,08,281 women have achieved 'Lakhpati Didi' status, with annual household income exceeding ₹1 lakh .
Banks have disbursed ₹2,389 crore in loans to SHGs; the state has provided ₹837 crore in revolving and community investment funds.
80 Integrated Farming Clusters launched with an investment of ₹32 crore , linking 250–300 farmers each to livelihood service centres.
Tripura ranks second among northeastern states by GSDP, with rural areas accounting for nearly 70% of the state.
Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha on Monday, 18 May credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi with placing women's political and economic empowerment at the top of the national agenda, speaking before a gathering of Self Help Group (SHG) members in Agartala. The event, organised by the Tripura Rural Livelihood Mission (TRLM) at Rabindra Satabarshiki Bhavan, highlighted the scale and reach of rural women's enterprise across the state.
SHGs and Tripura's Rural Economy
Chief Minister Saha underscored the outsized role SHGs play in a state where nearly 70 per cent of the population lives in rural areas. He noted that more than 4.95 lakh rural women are enrolled across 55,569 SHGs spread through Tripura's rural and interior regions, collectively contributing to the state's Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP). Tripura currently ranks second among the northeastern states by GSDP, according to Saha.
Rise of the Lakhpati Didi
Of the 4.95 lakh women associated with SHGs in Tripura, as many as 1,08,281 have attained 'Lakhpati Didi' status — defined as an SHG member whose annual household income exceeds ₹1 lakh — through entrepreneurial activities. Saha described this as a tangible marker of economic self-reliance taking root at the grassroots level.
Financial Muscle Behind the Mission
Various banks have extended loans totalling ₹2,389 crore to SHGs in the state to bolster livelihood activities, Saha said. The state government has additionally channelled ₹837 crore as revolving and community investment funds. Under the Samriddhi 1.0 and Samriddhi 2.0 programmes, rural women have received targeted economic and social support.
Integrated Farming and Livelihood Clusters
Saha highlighted the Integrated Farming Cluster (IFC) model as a key pillar of rural livelihood strengthening, framing it as aligned with Prime Minister Modi's vision for agriculture-led growth. Activities under 80 IFCs have already been launched in Tripura with an investment of ₹32 crore. On average, 250 to 300 small and marginal farmers have been linked to livelihood service centres that provide quality seeds, fertilisers, and agricultural equipment alongside improved market access.
Vision for Viksit Bharat and the Northeast
'To achieve the goals of Viksit Bharat and Viksit Tripura by 2047, the joint efforts of both men and women are essential,' Saha said. He also recalled Prime Minister Modi's characterisation of the eight northeastern states as the 'Ashtalakshmi' of India, stressing the importance of strengthening infrastructure, connectivity, and livelihood opportunities across the region. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government's stated objective, Saha added, is to ensure every family achieves self-reliance, with particular focus on women and youth. How effectively these targets translate into sustained income gains for Tripura's rural households will be the measure of the mission's success.
Point of View
08,281 out of 4.95 lakh SHG members — is a concrete output figure, but the threshold of ₹1 lakh annual household income is modest by any urban standard and barely above Tripura's rural poverty line. The more telling metric will be whether incomes are rising year-on-year or whether women are clustering just above the threshold. The ₹2,389 crore in bank loans also raises a question mainstream coverage skips: what are the repayment rates, and are SHGs accumulating debt or equity? Tripura's second-place GSDP rank in the Northeast is progress, but the Northeast itself remains the country's most underdeveloped macro-region — context that reframes the achievement without diminishing it.
NationPress
11 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Lakhpati Didi?
A Lakhpati Didi is a Self Help Group member whose annual household income exceeds ₹1 lakh, achieved through entrepreneurial or livelihood activities. In Tripura, 1,08,281 women have attained this status out of more than 4.95 lakh SHG members.
How many SHGs are active in Tripura?
There are 55,569 SHGs operating across Tripura's rural and interior regions, enrolling more than 4.95 lakh women. The Tripura Rural Livelihood Mission is the nodal agency overseeing these groups.
How much funding have Tripura's SHGs received?
Banks have extended loans of ₹2,389 crore to SHGs in Tripura for livelihood activities. The state government has additionally provided ₹837 crore as revolving and community investment funds.
What is the Integrated Farming Cluster model mentioned by CM Saha?
The Integrated Farming Cluster (IFC) is an approach that links small and marginal farmers — typically 250 to 300 per cluster — to livelihood service centres providing seeds, fertilisers, equipment, and market access. Tripura has launched 80 such clusters with a combined investment of ₹32 crore.
Why did CM Saha reference the 'Ashtalakshmi' description?
Chief Minister Saha recalled Prime Minister Modi's framing of the eight northeastern states as the 'Ashtalakshmi' of India to underscore the Centre's stated commitment to improving infrastructure, connectivity, and livelihood opportunities across the region, including Tripura.
