TRIPURA CM DISTRIBUTES TOOLKITS TO SKILLED BRU YOUTH, STRESSES ECONOMIC SELF-RELIANCE
New Delhi, Aug 24, 2026 : Tripura Chief Minister Prof. Dr. Manik Saha on Sunday distributed toolkits to skilled Bru youth at a state-level ceremony in Amarpur, stressing the government’s focus on linking rehabilitation with sustainable livelihoods and economic self-reliance.
The programme was held at Anandadhara Town Hall in Gomati district, where the Chief Minister also initiated the release of stipends to trained Bru candidates and unveiled a booklet of the Directorate of Skill Development under the Department of Industries and Commerce.
According to an official release, 1,877 toolkits and 255 driving licences were distributed at the programme, while Rs.91.08 lakh was released as stipends of Rs.2,000 each to 4,554 trained Bru candidates.
The initiative is part of the Directorate of Skill Development’s efforts to take vocational training directly to Bru resettlement colonies and connect rehabilitation with employment, self-employment and entrepreneurship.
Since 2024, the Directorate has trained 5,121 Bru youth from 4,288 families through two phases covering 41 trade interventions, with a total committed expenditure of Rs.16.25 crore.
The programme aims to ensure that at least one member of every rehabilitated Bru family acquires a skill capable of generating income for the household.
Unlike conventional training programmes, the Directorate has taken training facilities to the beneficiaries by providing free courses inside or near the resettlement colonies. The approach is intended to ensure that geographical and family-related constraints do not prevent Bru youth from acquiring employable skills.
The training covers a range of livelihood-oriented trades, including livestock and agriculture, construction, textiles and handloom, transport, renewable energy, personal services and small food businesses.
Women have also participated in trades such as tailoring, handloom, mushroom cultivation, beekeeping and pickle making, creating additional income opportunities for their families.
Addressing the gathering, Chief Minister Saha said rehabilitation could be considered complete only when every rehabilitated family is able to become economically self-reliant and earn a livelihood with dignity.
He said the toolkits would provide beneficiaries with the means to turn their newly acquired skills into income-generating activities.
Saha also stressed the importance of linking skill development with sustainable livelihoods and referred to the guidance of Union Home Minister Amit Shah on empowering youth through training and economic opportunities.
The Chief Minister said the Centre and the state government were working together to ensure that beneficiaries receive appropriate training under government schemes and emerge not merely as job seekers but as self-employed and self-reliant citizens capable of supporting their families.
The toolkits distributed under Phase II covered trades including tailoring, mushroom cultivation, beekeeping, masonry, carpentry, electrical work, solar LED and solar photovoltaic systems, two-wheeler servicing, barbering, traditional handloom, bamboo utility products, street food vending and roadside food services.
In addition, 255 trained light motor vehicle (LMV) drivers received driving licences, enabling them to seek employment as drivers or operate their own vehicles.
The release of Rs.91.08 lakh in stipends to 4,554 beneficiaries from both phases has also cleared the stipend liability for the two phases.
The Chief Minister further said the Directorate of Skill Development, in collaboration with the Ramakrishna Mission, had initiated foreign-language training to create new opportunities for Tripura’s youth in hospitality, tourism, translation, business process services and overseas employment.
He urged the youth of Gomati district and the state to make full use of the training facilities provided by the government and assured continued support from training and placement to enterprise development.
The programme also featured an exhibition showcasing products and livelihood activities undertaken by trained Bru beneficiaries. A trained candidate shared his experience of the skill development programme, while a video highlighting success stories from the initiative was screened.
The initiative marks a shift in Tripura’s approach to Bru rehabilitation, moving beyond basic relief and resettlement support towards long-term economic independence through skills, tools and livelihood opportunities.