Tripura, 12 Jan 2026: Industry and Commerce Minister Santana Chakma said that when the spirit of patriotism is awakened, the nation, the state, and society move forward together. With this objective, the Swadeshi Fair has been organized to benefit small and medium entrepreneurs and Self-Help Groups (SHGs) of the state. She was speaking as the chief guest on the third evening of the Swadeshi Fair held at Astabal or Swami Vivekananda Maidan, organized by the Agartala Municipal Corporation.
The five-day-long fair will continue till January 13 and remains open from 1 PM to 9 PM. Its main aim is to promote indigenous products, increase public interest in Swadeshi goods, and encourage and empower local entrepreneurs through the purchase and sale of locally made products. Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call for “Vocal for Local,” the minister emphasized the importance of marketing, buying, and selling indigenous products.
Praising the Agartala Municipal Corporation for organizing the Swadeshi Fair for the first time, Minister Chakma said that Swadeshi fairs inspire people to move forward with Swadeshi ideals. She added that self-reliance at the individual level leads to self-reliance of the state. The state government is working towards balanced development in all regions and is also planning to establish Unity Malls. Both the central and state governments have launched several schemes to make SHG members and unemployed youth self-reliant. She wished the fair great success.
Social Welfare and Social Education Minister Tinku Roy, while addressing the gathering, said that India is steadily moving towards building an Atmanirbhar Bharat. He informed that there are over 50,000 Self-Help Groups in the state and between 2018 and 2025, loans worth ₹15,000 crore have been provided to them. There are lakhs of “Lakhpati Didis” in the state. He said that India is progressing rapidly in agriculture, rubber, tea, sports, metro rail services, and many other sectors. “Viksit Bharat is not just a slogan; it is about making every family self-reliant. When every family becomes self-reliant, the state and the nation automatically become self-reliant,” he added.
He also highlighted various developmental initiatives such as handloom, handicrafts and sericulture, agar cultivation, establishment of tea auction centers, Pradhan Mantri Vishwakarma Yojana, Eklavya Model Residential Schools, synthetic football grounds, agricultural development, MSMEs, and the Make in India initiative.
Cooperation Minister Shukla Charan Noatia said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has envisioned building an Atmanirbhar Bharat by 2047 and has given the call for “Vocal for Local” to achieve this goal. He said the Agartala Municipal Corporation has created a new platform through this Swadeshi Fair and thousands of people have participated in it. He cited the example of Gujarat’s local products, which are now being marketed across India and exported to nearly 11 countries. He added that the Swadeshi Fair would strengthen the economic foundation of the state.
Acting Speaker of the Tripura Legislative Assembly, Ram Prasad Paul, said that fairs symbolize unity and foster brotherhood among people. He noted that the large presence of buyers and sellers at the Swadeshi Fair shows the growing popularity of indigenous products in the state.
The welcome address was delivered by Agartala Municipal Corporation Mayor and MLA Deepak Majumder. The program began with the singing of “Vande Mataram,” followed by a dance performance by artists of Gurukul Nrityakala Ashram.
Among those present were MLA Minarani Sarkar, Deputy Mayor of Agartala Municipal Corporation Manika Das Dutta, Secretary of the Information and Cultural Affairs Department Dr. P.K. Chakraborty, Director Bimbisar Bhattacharjee, Director of Urban Development Department Megha Jain, Additional Municipal Commissioner Mihir Kanti Gop, and others.
A short video showcasing various activities of the Agartala Municipal Corporation was also screened during the event. The vote of thanks was delivered by AMC Commissioner Dilip Kumar Chakma.
