Odisha Ties Up With Weavers’ Service Centre to Boost Women-Led Textile Enterprises

Bhubaneswar: To empower women weavers in Odisha, the Department of Mission Shakti has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Weavers’ Service Centre under the Development Commissioner (Handlooms), Government of India. The partnership aims to revitalise the traditional weaving sector by enhancing skills, providing design support, and connecting Self Help Groups (SHGs) to wider markets.

The agreement was formalised at an event held at the Mission Shakti Bhawan Auditorium in Bhubaneswar, where Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida underscored the transformative potential of the collaboration. “Our mothers are making Odisha proud across the nation,” she said, citing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent mention of the Santali weaving art of Mayurbhanj and women’s Sankirtan groups of Keonjhar in his ‘Mann Ki Baat’ address. She reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to making SHG members economically self-reliant and progressing from ‘Lakhpati Didis’ to Crorepatis’ under the leadership of Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi.

The MoU will facilitate comprehensive support for women-led weaving enterprises — from skill training and contemporary design mentoring to product cataloging and digital promotion. SHGs engaged in tailoring, embroidery, and textile-based home enterprises will be trained to meet the demands of both national and international markets.

Commissioner-cum-Secretary of Mission Shakti, Shalini Pandit, highlighted how the initiative would benefit thousands of women already working in the textile sector. “This partnership will provide an enabling ecosystem for design innovation, production quality, and access to wider marketplaces,” she noted.

Dr. Monica Priyadarshini, Director of the Department, said the initiative was aimed at building sustainable, women-led weaving enterprises and enriching Odisha’s textile value chain. Bikash Kumar, Deputy Director of the Weavers’ Service Centre, added that the state’s weaving tradition had already earned national acclaim and that this new collaboration would add greater depth and creativity to its offerings.

The initiative also involves the development of multi-colour paper designs, prototype creation, and expert mentoring to enhance finishing, aesthetics, and market competitiveness. Additionally, SHG products will receive professional photography and digital cataloging support to boost visibility across physical and digital platforms.

Odisha remains a frontrunner in women-led development, with over 16 lakh Lakhpati Didis already created. Innovative platforms such as Subhadra Shakti Melas, Subhadra Shakti Cafés, and the One District One Product model have further strengthened local economies and women’s financial empowerment.

With this MoU, the state aims to transform its traditional weaving skills into structured and scalable enterprises — linking creativity with enterprise-readiness and ensuring sustainable livelihoods for thousands of women across Odisha.