Focus on Women Entrepreneurs, ‘Lakhpati Didi’ Drive as Parida Reviews Mission Shakti

Bhubaneswar: With a renewed push to accelerate women-led development across Odisha, Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida on Sunday reviewed district-wise performance of schemes implemented under the Mission Shakti Department, focusing on outcomes, fund flow, and grassroots impact during the current financial year.

The high-level review examined the progress of flagship programmes, bank credit linkages, interest subvention support for self-help groups (SHGs), and initiatives aimed at scaling women entrepreneurship and income generation. Assessing district-wise achievements, the Deputy Chief Minister directed officials to address operational gaps promptly and ensure timely execution of projects to enhance outreach and effectiveness.

Interacting with district officers, Parida described Mission Shakti as a cornerstone of Odisha’s women empowerment strategy, highlighting its role in enabling lakhs of women to gain financial independence, digital literacy, and social recognition. She said the platform has empowered women to emerge as entrepreneurs and grassroots leaders, driving inclusive growth across rural and urban areas alike.

“Mission Shakti has gone beyond a welfare initiative to become a transformative movement. It is reshaping livelihoods, strengthening household economies, and contributing significantly to the state’s development trajectory,” she said.

Outlining future priorities, the Deputy Chief Minister stressed the importance of expanding the base of women entrepreneurs and accelerating the creation of ‘Lakhpati Didi’ and ‘MahaLakhpati Didi’ beneficiaries. She informed that the upcoming financial year will prioritise stronger market linkages, enhanced skill development, capacity-building initiatives, financial assistance, and digital empowerment.

“These steps will ensure sustainable income generation and reinforce the financial stability of women self-help groups,” she added.

The review also took stock of performance targets for the current fiscal and mapped out strategic action points for the next year, aimed at deepening the economic and entrepreneurial impact of Mission Shakti across districts.