Bhubaneswar, 15 October (H.S.): The Women and Child Development (WCD) Department of the Odisha government on Thursday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Birla Global University (BGU), Bhubaneswar, to strengthen capacity-building initiatives for adolescent girls and peer leaders under the ADVIKA programme.

The MoU was signed at the WCD Department’s conference hall in the presence of Commissioner-cum-Secretary Dr Mrinalini Darswal, IAS, and BGU Vice-Chancellor Prof. Kulbhushan Balooni. Dr Darswal signed the agreement on behalf of the department, while Prof. Balooni represented the university. Senior departmental officials and BGU faculty members were also present.

The Odisha government launched ADVIKA, meaning “A Path to Adolescent Empowerment”, to help unlock the potential of adolescents aged 10–19 years through life-skills education and awareness-generation sessions conducted every Saturday.

The partnership aims to enhance the skills, knowledge and leadership capabilities of adolescent girls and peer leaders associated with the programme by combining the university’s academic expertise with the department’s grassroots outreach.

Under the agreement, BGU will organise a six-day residential training programme for 50 ADVIKA adolescent girls at its Bhubaneswar campus. The programme will provide participants with exposure to a university environment and opportunities for intensive, hands-on learning.

The university will also conduct a four-week community-based training programme for 50 ADVIKA peer leaders in Nimapada block of Puri district. The initiative is intended to equip them with the skills required to guide, mentor and support other adolescents in their communities.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Darswal emphasised the importance of equipping adolescent girls with skills relevant to an increasingly digital and knowledge-driven world. She said such training would enable them to make informed decisions and emerge as agents of positive change in their communities.

She also appreciated Birla Global University for partnering with the department to advance the objectives of the ADVIKA programme.

Prof. Balooni reaffirmed the university’s commitment to the initiative and assured that the participants would receive quality training and mentorship.

Additional Secretary Sumitra Pattnaik delivered the welcome address, while Deputy Secretary Jitendra Kumar Patra proposed the vote of thanks, bringing the programme to a close.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda