22 States, UTs Join Shakti Summit in Odisha to Strengthen Women’s Safety, Empowerment

Bhubaneswar: Strengthening institutional mechanisms and improving coordination among States have emerged as key priorities at the Shakti Summit being held in Bhubaneswar, with senior officials from 22 States and Union Territories participating in the three-day deliberations on women’s safety and empowerment.

Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida inaugurated the summit on Tuesday and called for a coordinated approach to addressing issues of women’s safety, protection and empowerment.

Speaking at the inaugural session, Parida said efforts towards women’s safety and empowerment must move together, supported by strong institutions, effective implementation and collective responsibility.

She said the summit would enable States and the Centre to exchange experiences, identify gaps in existing systems and develop practical strategies to strengthen institutional responses.

The summit has been organised by the National Commission for Women (NCW) in collaboration with the Government of Odisha. It brings together senior officials to share successful interventions and discuss emerging challenges related to women’s safety and protection.

NCW Chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar highlighted the need for sustained cooperation and stronger institutional mechanisms to ensure more effective implementation of women-centric laws and programmes across the country.

Twenty-nine senior officers in the ranks of Secretary, Commissioner, Director and Joint Director from 22 States and Union Territories are participating in the summit. The participating States and UTs include Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Punjab, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, West Bengal, Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir, Chandigarh and Telangana.

The discussions will focus on strengthening implementation mechanisms, sharing state-level best practices and improving institutional coordination to address challenges concerning women’s safety and protection.

The summit will also seek to identify areas for greater Centre-State and inter-State convergence and explore actionable measures to advance women’s empowerment.

NCW Member Secretary Sudeep Jain, Odisha Women and Child Development Commissioner-cum-Secretary Dr Mrinalini Darswal and Mission Shakti Secretary Manasi Nimbhal were among those present at the inaugural session.