Bhubaneswar: The State Government is planning to set up 500 Mission Shakti bazaars, operated exclusively by women self-help groups (SHGs) in the near future. These places will be hotspots to promote and market indigenous products by women SHGs, Secretary, Mission Shakti Department, Sujata R Kartikeyan said today.
As many as 500 Mission Shakti Bazar will be set up across Odisha, apart from Mission Shakti Cafes, where SHGs will prepare, serve and earn from Odia cuisines. SHGs to SMEs is another area of focus of the newly formed department, apart from facilitating bank loans to the tune of Rs 50,000 crore in 5 years, to women SHGs, she said.
Addressing reporters on the sidelines of PRI members orientation ceremony, Karthikeyan said that the State Government has always laid emphasis on women empowerment. “As our Chief Minister had said, no country, state or society can progress, if its women do not prosper.”
“A policy decision was made in 2019 that articles and produce worth Rs 5,000 crore will be purchased from SHGs. This was a revolutionary step. Mission Shakti is not a scheme or programme, it is a revolution, a campaign,” she said.
The State Government has an interest subvention scheme of zero-interest loans for an amount up to Rs 3 lakh. The department is looking at how this amount can be increased. “The main intent is to give a distinct identity to all women of Odisha,” she added.
