Bhubaneswar, 02 September (H.S.): The Odisha Department of Higher Education (DHE) has directed district-level degree nodal colleges to identify and nominate distinguished women professionals as ‘Shakti Apa’ under the Shaktishree Initiative.

In a letter issued on September 1, Commissioner-cum-Secretary Aravind Agrawal asked principals of nodal colleges across the state, excluding those in Angul, Balasore, Bargarh, Deogarh, Kalahandi, Khordha, Keonjhar and Rayagada, to select suitable candidates for the initiative.

As per the directive, five eminent women professionals from each district will be nominated as Shakti Apas. They will serve as role models, mentors and resource persons for girl students pursuing higher education.

The nominated women will periodically interact with students and provide guidance on issues concerning safety, empowerment and overall well-being. The initiative is aimed at ensuring that young women have access to experienced and accomplished professionals who can offer mentorship, motivation and practical guidance.

The DHE said the initiative would help promote a supportive environment for female students in higher educational institutions and provide them with opportunities to learn from successful women from their respective districts.

The Shaktishree Initiative is intended to strengthen efforts towards the safety, empowerment and holistic development of girl students across Odisha’s higher educational institutions.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda