Bhubaneswar, 13 June (H.S.) :To mark the completion of one year of the Odisha Government's tenure, the

Department of Women and Child Development organized a state-level event, ‘Nari

Shakti Samavesh’, at the historic Bali Yatra Ground in Cuttack today. Hon’ble

Chief Minister Shri Mohan Charan Majhi inaugurated the event and reaffirmed the

state government’s commitment to women’s empowerment.

Addressing

the gathering, the Chief Minister stated, “Respecting women is the first lesson

of our political education. The sole purpose of this initiative is to transform

the women of Odisha into our most powerful force. The comprehensive development

of the state cannot be achieved until half of our population – women – are

fully empowered.”

CM

Majhi expressed confidence that this initiative, launched from the historic

city of Cuttack, will herald a golden era for women across the state.

Highlighting

the government’s flagship ‘Subhadra Yojana’, the Chief Minister described it as

the largest and most inclusive women welfare initiative in the state’s history.

He emphasized that the scheme is not limited to women alone, but is a holistic

approach to social development, with a special focus on connecting women from

remote tribal regions who were previously unreached.

He

noted that the government has undertaken an extensive grassroots survey,

collecting household-level data to ensure the benefits of the scheme reach

every eligible woman, especially those from marginalized communities.

CM

Majhi remarked, “The success of the Subhadra Yojana is a testament to our

government's unwavering commitment. Women across Odisha are utilizing the

Subhadra Assistance to participate in economic activities, group farming, and

other livelihood-generating efforts, becoming financially self-reliant in the

process.”

Lauding

the vision of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, the Chief Minister

highlighted the success of the ‘Lakhpati Didi’ initiative, aimed at empowering

rural women economically. “It is a matter of great pride that Odisha leads the

nation in creating Lakhpati Didis, with over 1.6 million women already achieving

this status,” he said.

In a

landmark achievement, the government has facilitated business opportunities

worth ₹3,695 crore for Self Help Groups (SHGs) across departments this year – the

highest ever in the state’s history. Additionally, loans worth nearly ₹300 crore have been waived for over 3.07 lakh SHGs, enabling them to

pursue their economic aspirations.

The

Chief Minister also spoke about the Mukhyamantri Sampurna Poshan Yojana (MSPY),

under which women and children across Odisha are receiving nutritious meals,

laying the foundation for a healthier future.

He

reiterated that women’s empowerment is not just a slogan, but a core government

commitment – evidenced by a dedicated budgetary provision of ₹89,861 crore for women-centric programs

in the current fiscal year.

“The

day is not far when Odisha will emerge as a model state for women’s empowerment

in India,” CM Majhi asserted.

Deputy

Chief Minister Shri Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo, in his address, urged everyone to

draw inspiration from the spirit of Nari Shakti and work towards

building a prosperous and proud Odisha.

Deputy

Chief Minister Smt. Prabhati Parida emphasized that today's celebration was not

just a ceremonial event, but a reaffirmation of the state’s pledge toward equality,

prosperity, and progress. She promised to accelerate the implementation of

Subhadra Assistance and SHG initiatives under the dynamic leadership of CM

Majhi.

“Our

goal for the upcoming year is to ensure that every family has a Lakhpati Didi

and every panchayat a Crorepati Didi,” she declared.

During

the event, women who have made significant contributions to the field of

empowerment were felicitated by the Chief Minister. The government also

released a coffee table book capturing the ground-level and state-level

activities of the nutrition campaign, comprising photographs and narratives

showcasing the impact of various initiatives.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Samanwaya Nanda