Odisha Hosts Consultative Workshop on Gender Equality and SDG-5

Bhubaneswar: A day-long Consultative Workshop on Sustainable Development Goal-5 (Gender Equality): Reimagining Development through a Gender Lens – Inclusive, Safe, Sustainable was organised today by the Planning and Convergence Department, Government of Odisha, in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) at Bhubaneswar.

The workshop aimed to deliberate on pressing issues surrounding gender equality and its critical role in achieving SDG-5, with discussions covering women’s mobility and accessibility, economic empowerment, and gender-inclusive interventions through a multi-stakeholder approach.

In his welcome address, Manish Agarwal, IAS, Additional Secretary, P&C Department, outlined the objectives and expected outcomes of the workshop. Isabelle Tschan, Deputy Resident Representative of UNDP, highlighted the importance of integrating gender perspectives into the design and implementation of policies and programmes.

Delivering the keynote address, Anu Garg, IAS, Development Commissioner-cum-ACS, Government of Odisha, stressed the initiatives undertaken by the state to strengthen women’s economic empowerment and inclusive services. She noted that while significant progress has been made, more systemic efforts are needed to fully realise the goal of gender equality.

The workshop featured four thematic sessions. The first session on “Mobility and Accessibility for All” focused on creating safe and inclusive spaces for women, with discussions led by Dr. Sudhanshu Sarangi, IPS, DG Fire Services. Case studies, including a UNDP study on women’s safety on Tamil Nadu’s bus routes, were shared, followed by a panel discussion with experts from government, civil society, and academia.

The second session on “Economic Empowerment of Women” began with the inspiring journey of Ms. Bindhya Basini, a Lakhpati Didi from Rayagada. The session, chaired by Amit Kumar, Head (Inclusive Growth), UNDP, examined challenges in creating equitable work opportunities, with insights from officials including Rashmita Panda, Director Employment, and Monika Priyadarshini, State Mission Director-cum-CEO, Mission Shakti.

The third session, centred on “Gender-Inclusive Development,” addressed the socio-cultural and systemic barriers to achieving equality. Chaired by Subha Sharma, Principal Secretary, W&CD Department, Odisha, the panel explored challenges and opportunities highlighted by Dr. Md. Noor, State Head, UNFPA, and other speakers from Odisha and partner institutions.

The fourth and final session emphasized “Community Engagement and Advocacy.” Adyasha Satpathy, CEO of Dharitri and Odisha Post, underscored the importance of gender-sensitive reporting and media’s role in amplifying women’s voices. The discussions also stressed the role of civil society and grassroots organisations in driving gender equality from the bottom up.

The closing panel discussion, chaired by Prof. A.B. Ota, IAS (Retd.), included social activist Meera Parida and representatives from industry and civil society, who collectively highlighted the need for inclusive, cross-sectoral collaboration.

Summarising the deliberations, Abha Mishra, Head-UNDP Odisha, presented the key takeaways, while T. Ao, IAS, Special Secretary, P&C Department, anchored the workshop proceedings.

The event witnessed wide participation from government officials, UNDP representatives, academia, entrepreneurs, SHG members, civil society organisations, and students, reinforcing Odisha’s commitment to advancing gender equality and strengthening inclusivity in the state’s development agenda.