The Tripura Rural Economic Growth and Service Delivery Project (TRESP), a flagship programme of the Tribal Welfare Department, is steadily gaining momentum in its execution across the state. 

The Rs 1,400-crore World Bank–funded project aims to significantly improve the socio-economic conditions of rural tribal communities through a coordinated, multi-sectoral approach. Owned by the Tribal Welfare Department, TRESP is being implemented through seven line departments, addressing key sectors such as education, roads and communication, and livelihood development.

Under the project framework, education-related interventions are carried out by the Secondary Education Department, while infrastructure works in roads and communication are executed by the Public Works Department (PWD). Livelihood activities are being jointly supported by the Agriculture, Fisheries and Animal Husbandry Departments, along with the Tripura Rural Livelihood Mission (TRLM). The Tribal Welfare Department, as the nodal agency, oversees project execution through a dedicated State Project Management Unit (PMU) operating under the “Society for TRESP”, which ensures timely fund flow to the concerned Project Implementing Units (PIUs).

As part of the project’s structured monitoring mechanism, progress is reviewed every quarter in the Executive Committee (EC) Meeting chaired by the Secretary, Tribal Welfare. 

On 9th February, Dr. K. Sashi Kumar, IFS, Secretary, Tribal Welfare Department, chaired the EC meeting and undertook a comprehensive review of TRESP implementation. The review focused on sector-wise progress, ground-level challenges faced by PIUs, and measures required to further accelerate project delivery.

Senior officials from all seven line departments, along with representatives from support agencies including SIPARD and T-SAC, attended the meeting. 

The review highlighted notable progress across all project components, with renewed emphasis on strengthening inter-departmental coordination, enhancing regular monitoring and feedback systems, speeding up producer group formation, and expediting the channelisation of working capital to community institutions. 

The Secretary also expressed satisfaction over the Model Village Development Plan (VDP) initiative being implemented by SIPARD, describing it as a vital step towards integrated and participatory tribal development under TRESP.