Stakeholders Push for Convergence to Strengthen Women-Led Livelihoods by UDYOGINI in Tripura

By Our Correspondent

Agartala, May 5, 2026

A partners’ workshop on “Building Women-Led Livelihood Ecosystems in Tripura” concluded at Hotel Polo Tower with a strong emphasis on convergence, institutional collaboration, and scalable enterprise models to empower rural women across the state.

The workshop brought together a diverse set of stakeholders, including government agencies, financial institutions, research bodies, and grassroots organizations, reflecting a growing recognition that fragmented efforts have limited the full potential of women-led enterprises. The inaugural session, marked by the ceremonial lighting of the lamp and felicitation of dignitaries, set the tone for a day of intensive deliberations.

In her welcome address, Nabanita Dey, Lead – Program, Udyogini Tripura, highlighted the need for coordinated strategies to strengthen women’s entrepreneurship. Dr. Rashmi Saxena, CEO of Udyogini, elaborated on the organization’s approach to building sustainable livelihood models, emphasizing capacity building and long-term ecosystem support rather than short-term interventions.

A key session led by Anil S. Kotmire of NABARD Tripura provided an overview of the existing women livelihood ecosystem in the state. While acknowledging progress, the discussion pointed to persistent challenges such as limited market access, inadequate credit flow, and weak last-mile institutional capacity. These gaps, participants noted, continue to constrain the scalability of women-led enterprises.

The workshop also focused on value chain development, particularly in banana-based enterprises, where opportunities for aggregation, processing, and market expansion remain underutilized. Experts stressed that without structured value chains and enterprise incubation, production gains may not translate into sustainable incomes.

One of the central highlights was a panel discussion on building viable women-led agri-enterprises. Panelists from Krishi Vigyan Kendras, research institutions, and line departments emphasized the importance of bridging the gap between production and profitability. They advocated for improved access to technology, stronger market linkages, and better alignment of government schemes with grassroots needs.

Another critical session, “Convergence in Practice: From Silos to Synergy,” underscored the urgency of coordinated action. Moderated by Dr. Manjit Singh Nain of the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, the discussion called for aligning scientific research with field-level enterprise development. Participants noted that effective convergence between departments and institutions could significantly enhance productivity and sustainability.

The workshop concluded with an open forum on partnership pathways, where stakeholders outlined a shared action framework focusing on targeted interventions for marginalized groups, clearly defined institutional roles, and immediate collaboration opportunities. Market linkages and policy convergence emerged as priority areas.

While the workshop marked a positive step toward building a cohesive ecosystem, experts cautioned that sustained impact will depend on translating discussions into actionable strategies with measurable outcomes. The collective commitment shown at the event signals intent, but its success will ultimately hinge on consistent coordination and accountability among stakeholders

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