Photo Courtesy: tripuratimes
Agartala: Surekha Ray Deb is changing the game in rural Tripura. She manages nearly seven khani of farmland by juggling vegetable crops, pig rearing, and a growing dairy business. The dairy operation serves as the backbone of her family income.
She credits her growth to local self-help groups. She accessed institutional credit four times through her group to scale her various ventures. This cash flow proved vital. It turned a small plot into a profitable operation.
Her work caught national attention in February 2026. Officials honored her at the National Krishi Vigyan Mela in New Delhi for her livestock and farming methods. Tarit Kanti Chakma, CEO of the Tripura Rural Livelihood Mission, recently visited her farm with his team to study her model.
The group discussed the daily grind and opportunities for rural business owners. Ray Deb believes that access to training and capital is the key for others to follow her path. "Rural women can achieve economic independence if given access to credit, training, and livelihood support," Ray Deb said. The government now views her success as a blueprint for the national goal of creating more Lakhpati Didis.
Updated at 3rd September 2026 at 6:00pm
A second success story is emerging from the Khowai District. Lipi Bhowmik, another Lakhpati Didi, has launched an eco-enterprise in Paschim Sonatala that converts dried cow dung into folders, idols, and diyas. She secured a Rs 5.10 lakh loan through the Tripura Rural Livelihoods Mission to get the operation off the ground.
Bhowmik juggles this manufacturing work while serving as a Krishi Sakhi Didi and holding a spot in the Loknath Self Help Group. TRLM CEO Tarit Kanti Chakma recently visited her site to inspect the production process. Officials are now holding up her business as a model for blending traditional resources with modern market needs.
Comments