Bhubaneswar: In a significant stride towards women’s empowerment in Odisha, Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida inaugurated the Mission Shakti Auditorium and the Mission Shakti Call Centre today at the Mission Shakti Bhawan premises in Pokhariput. The state-of-the-art facilities are expected to play a crucial role in supporting women’s self-help groups (SHGs) across the state, further strengthening the government’s ongoing efforts to uplift women economically and socially.
The newly inaugurated Mission Shakti Auditorium, constructed by IDCO at a cost of ₹7.59 crore, has a seating capacity of 400. It is designed to host a range of events such as training programs, capacity-building workshops, seminars, and product launches aimed at benefiting SHGs and their federations. Parida noted that this infrastructure would serve as a vital platform for empowering women collectives, facilitating their continued development and active participation in the state’s economic progress.
Additionally, Parida launched the Mission Shakti Call Centre, which will act as a centralized support hub for SHGs. Equipped to handle queries, offer personalized assistance, and gather feedback, the call centre will ensure a direct communication link between SHG members and the government. The toll-free number, 155276, will operate from 10:00 AM to 5:30 PM on all working days, providing essential support and guidance to the SHG community.
During the inauguration, Parida highlighted the government’s dedication to empowering women through a range of initiatives under Mission Shakti. She commended the department’s success in surpassing its 100-day targets, which include:
- Interest subvention of ₹175 crore to SHGs statewide.
- Government business worth ₹530 crore provided to SHGs.
- Bank linkages exceeding ₹2,340 crore for SHGs.
- Creation of over 2.2 lakh Lakhpati Didis and 750 producer groups.
- Establishment of 100 Mission Shakti Retail Marts.
Parida emphasized that these milestones reflect the government’s commitment to improving the financial independence of women, fostering entrepreneurship, and providing institutional support to SHGs.
Other dignitaries present at the event included Babu Singh, MLA of Ekamra Bhubaneswar, and top officials from the Department of Mission Shakti, including Commissioner-cum-Secretary Shalini Pandit, State Mission Director Vineet Bhardwaj, and Additional Secretary Sumitra Patnaik.
