By Our Correspondent
BHUBANESWAR: In her welcome address, at a Plenary Session: ‘Building Economic Independence for Women Empowerment’ at the Make in Odisha-2022 conclave here at Janata Maidan in Bhubaneswar, on Saturday, Sujata R Karthikeyan, Commissioner, Mission Shakti, shared the Hon’ble Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s vision to convert every SHG into an SME to encourage female enterprise in India. To support financing for women entrepreneurs, Rs 5000 Crore of goods will now be procured only through SHGs, she added.
“Under Mission Shakti department’s banking schemes, INR 50,000 crore worth of funds can now be availed by 500+ groups of women across Odisha to spearhead the state’s transformation journey,” Minister, Women and Child development & Mission Shakti, BasantiHembram said.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik while addressing a Plenary Session, announced that State’s Mission Shakti Department will set up medium and mini industrial parks in all 30 districts of Odisha to promote entrepreneurship.
Chief Minister highlighted how women empowerment is deeply entrenched into his government’s path to progress.‘Women Empowerment is not just a slohan for my Government but a non-negotiable code,’ he said.
M Patnaik also released a Coffee Table Book on Mission Shakti and felicitated 3 SHGs for best performance. CM also felicitated SBI, Odisha Gramya Bank, ECO Bank for their support to SHGs.
Mission Shakti started in 2021, it has now has 70 Lakh empowered women with 6 Lakhs SHGs associated with it. “I have already announced interest free loan up to Rs 5 Lakh, it will benefit lakhs of mothers in the State,” he said.
Rs 5000 Crore goods and services will be procured from SHGs in next 5 years, he said. Women playing a key role in State’s transformation, CM added.
Chief Secretary Suresh Mohapatra, 5T Secretary VK Pandian and other senior officers were among those present.
