Agartala, May 12: In a major step towards strengthening rural women entrepreneurship in Tripura, a group of 40 Marketing Didis under the Tripura Rural Livelihood Mission (TRLM), along with a State Coordinator, departed for Guwahati on Tuesday to participate in a three-day Training of Trainers (ToT) programme on marketing skills at the National Institute of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj (NIRDPR).
The initiative aims to enhance the participants’ knowledge and practical skills in areas such as branding, product promotion, market linkage, communication strategies and enterprise development. The training is expected to empower the Marketing Didis to provide better support and guidance to rural women entrepreneurs across the state.
According to TRLM officials, the programme has been designed to create a strong network of skilled women mentors who can help Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and rural producers access wider markets and improve the sustainability of their businesses.
The participants will receive intensive training on modern marketing practices, customer engagement, packaging techniques and strategies to promote locally produced goods. Officials believe that such exposure will strengthen grassroots entrepreneurship and encourage women-led enterprises in rural areas.
Following the Guwahati programme, the participants are also scheduled to undergo specialized rural marketing training at the Indian Institute of Management Calcutta (IIM-C). The advanced training at IIM-C will provide them with deeper insights into business development, marketing management and innovative approaches to rural enterprise growth.
TRLM officials stated that the initiative forms part of the mission’s broader objective of empowering women economically and creating sustainable livelihood opportunities in villages across Tripura. By building the capabilities of Marketing Didis, the mission seeks to bridge the gap between rural producers and larger markets.
The programme is also expected to encourage confidence and leadership among women associated with Self-Help Groups, enabling them to become active contributors to local economic development.
Over the years, TRLM has implemented several initiatives to improve the socio-economic condition of rural women through skill development, entrepreneurship and financial inclusion. Officials expressed confidence that the advanced training would further strengthen women-led rural enterprises and open new avenues for growth and self-reliance in Tripura.
