Agartala, Jan 10: Tripura Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Ratan Lal Nath on Sunday stressed the importance of preserving culture and tradition for better health and well-being, while underscoring the pivotal role of Self Help Groups (SHGs) in strengthening the rural economy of the state.
Addressing the gathering at the Pithe Puli Utsav held at Kathalia Higher Secondary School in Dhanpur, Sepahijala district, Nath said globalisation has significantly altered traditional food habits, leading to adverse health effects. He noted that earlier, seasonal delicacies such as pithe, mua, nadu, murir mua and chirar mua, prepared by mothers at home, were an integral part of Bengali culture and contributed to healthy living.
“In this season, our mothers traditionally prepared nutritious Bengali foods. Today, these have been largely replaced by street food, resulting in increasing stomach-related ailments. Preserving our culinary traditions is essential for safeguarding our health. I am not opposing other foods, but our culture has its own inherent value,” the minister said.
Describing the Pithe Puli Utsav as more than just a food festival, Nath said it represents culture, tradition and self-reliance, reflecting the social and economic strength of rural communities.
Highlighting government initiatives to empower women through SHGs, the minister said Tripura currently has 54,627 SHGs with around 4.89 lakh members. “Before 2018, only about 3,506 groups received a revolving fund amounting to Rs 4.26 crore. Our government has provided Rs 75 crore to 36,530 groups,” he said.
He further noted a significant rise in bank credit to SHGs, stating that loans have expanded from 900 groups worth Rs 4 crore earlier to more than one lakh groups with a total credit of Rs 1,896 crore. “Over one lakh women have now become financially independent as ‘Lakhpati Didis’, which clearly shows our commitment to self-reliance,” Nath added.
The minister emphasised that empowering women through SHGs contributes directly to state and national development and aligns with the vision of Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat. Quoting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Nath said modernisation must go hand in hand with the preservation of culture and tradition.
“Unlike previous governments that overlooked such initiatives, our SHGs are actively strengthening the rural economy and transforming the lives of women across Tripura,” he said.
