Odisha Celebrates Women Empowerment with ‘Subhadra Shakti Mela’ at Janata Maidan

Bhubaneswar: In a significant show of support for women’s empowerment, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi inaugurated the ‘Subhadra Shakti Mela’ at Janata Maidan in Bhubaneswar. The event, organized by the Odisha government, aims to highlight the untapped potential and strength of women across the state, symbolizing their role as ‘Subhadra Shakti’—a powerful force driving prosperity and change.

The nine-day mela is not just an exhibition but a celebration of the talent, skills, and entrepreneurial spirit of Odisha’s women. CM Majhi, in his inaugural address, emphasized that women’s empowerment is a key focus of the government’s initiatives, stating, “Our mission is to ensure that every woman, whether individually or in groups, is equipped with the skills to become a successful entrepreneur and achieve financial independence.”

More than 700 Self-Help Groups (SHGs) are participating in the event, showcasing over 200 products at 300 stalls. The diverse offerings include handicrafts, millet and organic food products, spices, bamboo crafts, and terracotta items, providing a platform for these women entrepreneurs to demonstrate their work and gain recognition for their contributions.

CM Majhi also laid out the government’s ambitious plan to create 25 lakh ‘Lakhpati Didis’ (women earning over ₹1 lakh annually) by 2027, aligning with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of empowering women. The ‘Lakhpati Didi Sahayika Yojana’ launched this year aims to achieve this target, and further government initiatives include doubling the revolving fund for SHGs from ₹15,000 to ₹30,000 and increasing the Community Investment Fund for Gram Panchayat-level federations to ₹60 lakh.

Highlighting the government’s commitment to financial inclusion, the Chief Minister announced that the state will provide interest subsidies for loans up to ₹10 lakh for SHGs. In the 2024-25 financial year, this initiative is set to benefit over 3 lakh SHGs, with a total of ₹300 crore allocated for interest subsidies.

The Chief Minister also highlighted the success of the ‘Subhadra’ scheme, which has already disbursed over ₹4,900 crore to 98 lakh women. He announced that the second installment of ₹5,000 would be distributed on March 8, 2025, coinciding with International Women’s Day, and expressed his vision for these funds to become capital for women to start their own businesses.

In his speech, CM Majhi introduced new initiatives under the Subhadra platform, including Kishori Subhadra, Subhadra Sanchay, Subhadra Sakhi, and Subhadra Yatri, with a budget of ₹10,145 crore for the next financial year.

Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida, who also attended the event, praised the Subhadra Shakti Mela as a reflection of Odisha’s commitment to women’s empowerment. She urged the women of the state to continue their hard work and determination, stressing that their contributions would help achieve a ‘Viksit Odisha’ by 2036.

The event, which witnessed the presence of Bhubaneswar Ekamra MLA Babu Singh, Mission Shakti Commissioner-cum-Secretary Shalini Pandit, and Mission Shakti Director Monica Priyadarshini, showcased Odisha’s dedication to creating a prosperous future for its women, providing them with opportunities to thrive and succeed.