Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has lauded the role of Tripura Gramin Bank (TGB) in supporting grassroots entrepreneurship, citing the success story of Bulti Debnath Datta, a single mother from South Tripura who expanded her construction‑material business with successive loans under the Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana.

Speaking at a national‑level interaction with MUDRA beneficiaries, Sitharaman highlighted how TGB’s assistance enabled Bulti to transform her small factory into a growing enterprise. “Look at Tripura Gramin Bank,” she said, noting that the bank was helping people in “imaginative, innovative ways” beyond conventional business models.

Bulti and her husband started their cement and rod‑based manufacturing unit in Maheshpur, Belonia, in 2017. In 2019, she availed a Rs 3 lakh loan from TGB, repaid it, and secured another Rs 3 lakh loan in 2023. As demand grew, she approached the bank again and received a Rs 7 lakh MUDRA loan in 2024 under the Tarun category.

With the additional capital, she expanded production, employed five workers, and purchased a delivery vehicle. Today, she supplies RCC pillars, filters, and ventilators to projects across 10–12 panchayats in Hrishyamukh block, including works under MGNREGA.

Now managing the business as a single mother, Bulti supports her two daughters and in‑laws, expressing gratitude to TGB and the Government of India for enabling her journey.

Sitharaman emphasized that Bulti’s case demonstrated how MUDRA loans could empower women in unconventional sectors like construction materials. She said regional rural banks such as TGB were not merely meeting lending targets but actively fostering grassroots entrepreneurship and livelihood creation. “I want to extend my sincere appreciation to Tripura Gramin Bank,” she remarked.

Tripura Gramin Bank, sponsored by Punjab National Bank, is one of the Regional Rural Banks operating in the state. The MUDRA scheme provides collateral‑free institutional credit to micro enterprises, with loans under the Tarun category ranging from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 10 lakh.

Sitharaman’s interaction underscored the broader objective of MUDRA—to help small entrepreneurs access formal credit, expand their businesses, and contribute to local economic growth.