Agartala, August 05, 2025: In a remarkable tale of rural empowerment, Rekha Saha, a resident of Kadamtala RD Block, has emerged as one of Tripura’s inspiring ‘Lakhpati Didis’ under the Tripura Rural Livelihood Mission (TRLM). A member of the Sagarikha Self Help Group (SHG) under Ashar Alo Cluster Level Federation, Rekha joined the SHG in 2021 with hopes of improving her family-run bakery business.

Earlier, the bakery, operated by her husband, struggled with limited income and traditional production methods. However, after joining the SHG, Rekha accessed small loans to upgrade their bakery infrastructure.

Recognizing her dedication, TRLM officials facilitated her connection with the Pradhan Mantri Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) scheme. Through the scheme, she secured a bank loan of ₹9.66 lakh, which was used to purchase a modern oven. This equipment upgrade increased daily production from 150 kg to 400 kg, significantly boosting their income—from ₹5,000 to ₹13,000 per day.

Rekha’s business soon expanded beyond local markets to other blocks and even parts of Assam. TRLM also supported her in acquiring necessary licenses and improving packaging. As a result, her bakery’s turnover touched ₹6.2 lakh in the financial year 2024–25, and her annual income now nears ₹10 lakh.

Rekha Saha’s journey from a modest bakery operator to a successful entrepreneur is being hailed as a model of how government support and personal determination can transform rural lives under the TRLM’s Lakhpati Didi campaign.