Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi inaugurated the ‘Subhadra Shakti Mela’ at Janata Maidan in Bhubaneswar today, emphasizing the immense potential and strength of women in Odisha. The event, organized by the state government, aims to awaken the latent power of women, symbolizing them as ‘Subhadra Shakti’—a force of prosperity and empowerment.
In his inaugural address, CM Majhi stated that the mela is not just an exhibition but a celebration of the success stories of Odisha’s mothers, sisters, and daughters. It showcases their talent, skills, and entrepreneurial spirit.
“Women’s empowerment is not just a slogan for our government; it is a movement. Our goal is to ensure that every woman, whether individually or in groups, becomes a skilled entrepreneur and achieves financial independence,” Majhi said.
The nine-day Subhadra Shakti Mela features over 700 Self-Help Groups (SHGs) displaying more than 200 products across 300 stalls. The event highlights a wide range of products, including handicrafts, millet and organic products, food items, spices, terracotta, bamboo crafts, and more.
CM Majhi also highlighted the state government’s commitment to creating 25 lakh ‘Lakhpati Didis’ (women earning over ₹1 lakh annually) in the next three years, inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision. To achieve this, the government has introduced the ‘Lakhpati Didi Sahayika Yojana’ this year. Additionally, the revolving fund for SHGs has been doubled from ₹15,000 to ₹30,000, and the Community Investment Fund for Gram Panchayat-level federations has been increased from ₹35 lakh to ₹60 lakh.
The Chief Minister announced that the state government will provide interest subsidies on bank loans up to ₹10 lakh for SHGs. In the financial year 2024-25, over 3 lakh SHGs will benefit from interest subsidies amounting to ₹300 crore.
CM Majhi also spoke about the ‘Subhadra’ scheme, one of the most popular initiatives for women in Odisha. Under this scheme, over 98 lakh women have already received more than ₹4,900 crore. The second installment of ₹5,000 will be disbursed on March 8, 2025, coinciding with International Women’s Day. He envisioned a future where 1 crore women utilize these funds as capital to start businesses, significantly boosting Odisha’s economy.
The government plans to introduce several new initiatives under the Subhadra platform, including Kishori Subhadra, Subhadra Sanchay, Subhadra Sakhi, Subhadra Yatri, Subhadra Sangh or Club, Kuha Subhadra or Subhadra Call Center, Subhadra Sahayogi, Subhadra Pandit, and Suyogya Subhadra. A budget of ₹10,145 crore has been allocated for the Subhadra scheme in the upcoming financial year.
The Chief Minister confidently stated that when we celebrate a ‘Samruddha Odisha’ (prosperous Odisha) in 2036, your contribution will be the most significant in the state’s progress.
During the event, the Chief Minister visited the stalls set up at the mela and highly praised the products crafted by the women of Self-Help Groups (SHGs).
Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida, who also attended the event, described the Subhadra Shakti Mela as a symbol of women’s empowerment and prosperity. She urged the women of Odisha to continue their hard work and determination, which will contribute to building a ‘Viksit Odisha’ by 2036.
The event was attended by Bhubaneswar Ekamra MLA Babu Singh, Mission Shakti Commissioner-cum-Secretary Shalini Pandit, and Mission Shakti Director Monica Priyadarshini, among others.
The Subhadra Shakti Mela stands as a testament to Odisha government’s commitment to women’s empowerment, showcasing their creativity, resilience, and entrepreneurial spirit while providing them with a platform to thrive economically.
