Bhubaneswar: In a unique effort to connect directly with women beneficiaries, Deputy Chief Minister Smt. Pravati Parida today held a virtual interaction with participants of the Subhadra Yojana, referred to as “Subhadra Bhauni”, from various districts across Odisha. The session, held at the Departmental Conference Hall, was organised under the aegis of the Department of Women & Child Development.
During the interaction, the Deputy Chief Minister emphasised the growing strength of rural digitalisation and how it is enabling women to drive economic transformation through the Subhadra platform. She highlighted how women across the state are supporting one another in a structured chain of cooperation, fostering collective growth and self-reliance.
Smt. Parida reiterated that the core objective of the Subhadra Yojana is to make women economically self-sufficient. She expressed satisfaction that many women have begun to pursue their entrepreneurial aspirations through this scheme. Encouraging active engagement, she invited beneficiaries to write directly to her or the department with suggestions for strengthening the scheme’s implementation and reach.
Several women shared their success stories during the virtual interaction. Among them was Merry Harijan from Malkangiri, who has started her own tailoring unit with the help of Subhadra assistance. Saraswati Jena from Balasore spoke about expanding her beauty parlour business. Mamta Pattnayak from Khurda narrated her journey of working on traditional Chandua (appliqué) craft, while Pramila Tandi from Balangir described her active involvement in weaving handloom sarees. Others spoke about taking up mushroom cultivation and running small tiffin stalls to support their families. Their journeys reflect the growing wave of women-led economic empowerment across Odisha.
The session was also attended by Smt. Shubha Sharma, Principal Secretary of the Women & Child Development Department, and Smt. Monisha Banerjee, Director of the Department, along with other senior officials.
