Women Emerging as Drivers of Social Change: Pravati Parida

Bhubaneswar: Odisha Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida attended the second day of the Subhadra Shakti Leadership Conference organised by the Mission Shakti Department at Konark on the occasion of International Women’s Day, highlighting the growing role of women in driving social and economic change.

Addressing the gathering, Parida said women are no longer confined to their homes and have emerged as a powerful force in society. She noted that through Mission Shakti, lakhs of women in Odisha are becoming self-reliant and setting new milestones in entrepreneurship and community development. The Deputy Chief Minister emphasised that the conference would strengthen women’s leadership and help Self-Help Groups transition into small and medium enterprises, contributing to rural economic growth.

She also reiterated the government’s vision of creating more “Lakhpati and Maha Lakhpati Didis” in the coming years, encouraging women to establish enterprises and achieve financial independence.

Around 90 presidents and secretaries of women federations from the districts of Bargarh, Rayagada, Sambalpur and Koraput participated in the conference. They received training on leadership development, skill enhancement, start-up opportunities and financial empowerment.