Bhubaneswar, 21 February (H.S.): Aiming to empower women from Self Help Groups (SHGs) in Odisha, the state government is set to organise the Subhadra Shakti Mela in Bhubaneswar, commencing tomorrow.

The event will take place over nine days at Janata Maidan, featuring participation from SHGs across all 30 districts of the state. The fair will conclude on March 2.

This marks the first occasion that the BJP-led government is hosting the Subhadra Shakti Mela in the capital city to showcase the diverse and high-quality products produced by women SHGs throughout Odisha. The event aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of creating Lakhpati Didis, according to Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida.

At a press conference today, Parida announced that over 700 SHGs from 30 districts would exhibit their products in more than 300 stalls. The fair will include more than 200 different types of products, such as handlooms, handicrafts, organic goods, spices, millets, terracotta, and bamboo items.

Parida also addressed rumours suggesting that the event is associated with Odisha's flagship programme, 'Subhadra Yojana.' She clarified, The Subhadra Shakti Mela is not part of the Subhadra scheme. This initiative is solely by the state government to provide a world-class platform for SHGs to display and sell their products, helping them become 'Lakhpati Didis.'

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Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda