Bhubaneswar: Women have risen to new heights in the last 20 years in Odisha. The state government continues to protect their political, social and economic rights, said Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on the occasion of a state-level International Women’s Day celebration.
The Chief Minister emphasized the importance of respecting women while participating in a program organized at Lok Seva Bhavan, Patnaik further said that where women are respected, Gods live there.
Expressing his views on the progress of women in Odisha, the Chief Minister said that women in the state are now established in the political field. He said that out of the 30 zilla parishads in the state, women are leading in 20. More than 50 percent of women are represented in panchayat and municipal bodies.
Giving the example of Mission Shakti, he said that women are contributing to their families by doing small business. This is a huge change which boosted their confidence and inspired them to dream big, Patnaik said.
The state government is also giving billions of government jobs to women through Mission Shakti. The Chief Minister expressed pleasure for this, saying that they are also handling such a task very well. Now women started a campaign to become entrepreneurs. The state government is providing interest-free loans up to Rs 10 lakh
‘You go ahead, I am with you’, the CM called upon the women.
Similarly, the Chief Minister said that the state government has taken measures to protect the social rights of women and increase their dignity. The state government is providing more benefits to women in various schemes. Under the Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana, health services of Rs 5 lakh are available for all, while women are getting benefits of Rs 10 lakh. Girls get Rs 1,000 more in New-O scholarship. Women are traveling in LAccMI buses at half price for only Rs 5.
On this occasion, the Chief Minister wished the women success in their lives and asked them to excel in all fields. He called upon the women to contribute to the formation of new Odisha.
Women and Child Development Minister Basanti Hembram, who was present on the occasion, said that under the dynamic leadership of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, the Department of Women and Child Development has implemented various women-centric schemes such as Matrukalyan Yojana, Mamata, Adwika, Jagruti, Women’s Helpline, Biju Kanyaratna and Mukhya Mantri Sampoorna Prusti Yojana. The schemes have promoted the social and economic empowerment of women. Mission Shakti has changed the lives of 70 lakh women of the state, Hembram said.
