The tea industry is the second most organized industry after rubber in Tripura, India and is gravid with immense potential that can offer inclusive and sustainable growth to the state’s economy directly and indirectly. The industry went through a series of troubles ranging from insurgency to ethnic clashes over the last six decades. Despite the challenges, the Tripura Tea Development Corporation (TTDC) returned to the profit path in 2018. The marketing opportunities for the tea gardens have been rudimentary, depriving the tea growers of their due recognition and better returns on investments; however, TTDC’s Tripureswari brand of tea has successfully positioned itself with a strong appeal and quick acceptance by the masses. The public distribution supply chain supported by the co-operative societies helps reduce the shipment cost and ensures the availability of tea at affordable prices for common people. The purpose of this study was to explore the nuances of the tea industry in Tripura and to consider how re-engineering can turn this industry into a profit-making public sector. To understand the turnaround strategy of this research, the authors have used a mixed method approach where secondary data were collected, discussed, and gathered from interviews with area experts. The findings of this research indicate that the state-owned Tripura Tea Development Corporation Ltd. (TTDC) transformed itself through re-engineering the supply chain. Furthermore, coupling with branding exercises has instilled confidence, even among the small tea growers, thereby offering social security and inclusion. Further, TTDC has taken the socially excluded people under its ambit through plantation activities using the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).

Aim. Before COVID-19, training institutions rarely used eLearning to improve Elected Representatives' (ERs) skills in rural development who come from vernacular social and academic backgrounds. Online education has numerous upsides, but there is always some controversy about whether or not every learner will benefit from the same approach. The study was conducted in Tripura, a North-Eastern state of India, examine the efficacy of online training among the ERs responsible for extending the rural local government services to the common people. Methods. This study utilised the qualitative technique of focus group discussion to acquire a comprehensive grasp of the positive and negative opinions of ERs regarding their experiences with online training. Samples were collected from all the districts and all three tiers of rural government. Results. The study is a pioneering work to evaluate views of ERs on e-learning. Lack of technical support, boredom in training sessions, and lack of allowances for internet use, transportation to headquarters for training, and refreshments contributed the trainees' negative experiences. Further, training materials were poorly presented and failed to convey the intended message. Conclusions. This study will enable trainers, administrators, and policymakers to reengineer their andragogic structures of future grassroots online training programmes for higher efficacy. ERs dislike e-learning, and government regulations that favour classroom instruction worsen this issue. Policy initiatives to reconcile demand and supply, such as high-quality capacity building for Rural Local Bodies (RLBs) ERs with vernacular academics, are needed to achieve practical results.