Agartala, Tripura, 21st of January, 2026 : A significant initiative aimed at strengthening tribal village development has been launched under the World Bank–funded Tripura Rural Economic Growth and Service Delivery Project (TRESP). As part of this effort, a three-day Training of Trainers (ToT) workshop on preparation of Village Development Plans (VDP) is being conducted by the State Institute of Public Administration and Rural Development (SIPARD). The training programme commenced on 20 January and will conclude on 22 January.
The ToT programme is designed to build a strong cadre of master trainers and community resource persons who will spearhead the preparation of Model Village Plans in tribal-dominated areas of the state. A total of 40 participants are attending the workshop, including officials from TRESP, TRLM, ARDD, Fisheries, Agriculture and Panchayat departments, along with Pashu Sakhi, Matsya Sakhi, Krishi Sakhi, five SIPARD resource persons, and community resource persons selected from five blocks.
From February onwards, the trained master trainers and resource persons will roll out awareness campaigns, training programmes, outreach activities and coordination efforts to facilitate the preparation of Village Development Plans in four blocks of West Tripura district and Jampuijala block of Sepahijala district.
The workshop is also focusing on convergence of flagship central and state government schemes such as Dharati Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan and Pradhan Mantri Adi Adarsh Gram Yojana with the tribal village development planning process. Detailed deliberations are being held to ensure that ground realities, socio-economic conditions, infrastructure gaps and future development potential are comprehensively assessed, leading to a well-integrated and high-quality development plan for each village.
In the first phase, the initiative will be implemented on a pilot basis in Lefunga, Belbari, Mandai, Hezamara and Jampuijala blocks, where training, awareness generation and planning exercises will culminate in the preparation of Model Village Plans. Subsequently, the programme will be expanded to other districts, covering 23 tribal blocks across all eight districts of Tripura in a phased manner.
This marks SIPARD’s first such innovative initiative at the state level, aiming to move beyond conventional village planning approaches by ensuring active participation of local communities. The Model Village initiative under TRESP is expected to play a transformative role in improving the socio-economic conditions and quality of life in tribal areas, while also providing a sustainable roadmap for future development. The training and planning process for Model Villages is being led by SIPARD Nodal Officer and Assistant Professor Dr. Rajib Malakar, along with TRESP Training Specialist Abdur Rahman Choudhury, jointly overseeing the overall capacity building and Village Development Plan formulation under the project.
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