Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi today inaugurated the second edition of the State-level ‘Subhadra Shakti Mela’ at the IDCO Exhibition Ground in Bhubaneswar, reaffirming his government’s commitment to making every woman in Odisha economically self-reliant, independent, and entrepreneurial.
Addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister said, “Whether at the individual or group level, we are working with dedication so that every woman in the state achieves economic self-reliance and becomes a skilled entrepreneur. Our goal is to build a prosperous Odisha by 2036 and make it the growth engine of a developed India by 2047. This vision will be realized when the power of our millions of Subhadras awakens.”
He described the Subhadra Yojana as a unique model for empowering women and unlocking their potential to contribute meaningfully to the state’s socio-economic development.
The Chief Minister highlighted that 300 women Self-Help Groups (SHGs) from across Odisha are participating in this year’s fair, showcasing and selling locally produced goods. The fair, celebrating women entrepreneurship and Odisha’s cultural heritage, will continue till November 12.
Majhi invoked the spirit of Maa Subhadra—a symbol of love, courage, and determination—saying that the state’s mothers and sisters are living embodiments of that divine energy. “Along with nurturing their families, they are now leading the way in building a developed Odisha,” he said.
Quoting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Chief Minister added that empowering women strengthens society itself. “Taking inspiration from Modiji’s vision, our government has adopted women’s empowerment as the fundamental basis of development,” he noted.
Praising the participants, Majhi said the Subhadra Shakti Mela is not just a venue for sales and display, but a celebration of “our mothers’ hard work, creativity, and success — a story of their journey from home courtyards to the state, national, and global stage.”
Highlighting achievements under women-focused initiatives, the Chief Minister said Odisha has already created 17 lakh Lakhpati Didis under the Lakhpati Didi Yojana, and aims to increase this to 25 lakh by 2027. To achieve this, the government has doubled the Revolving Fund for SHGs and enhanced the Community Investment Fund for Gram Panchayat-level federations from ₹35 lakh to ₹60 lakh, while also offering interest subvention on bank loans.
He emphasized that Subhadra is part of a broader ecosystem of women’s welfare schemes aimed at holistic empowerment across all sectors. “Our government will never deviate from the goal of empowering our mothers and sisters,” he asserted.
Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida, addressing the gathering, said that Subhadra mothers are earning recognition for the state through their products. “Our Chief Minister has full faith in the power of mothers to drive Odisha’s development. While the previous edition of the fair recorded ₹8 crore in business, this year’s edition is expected to cross ₹15 crore,” she added.
Development Commissioner Anu Garg lauded the Subhadra mothers for their remarkable work in rural areas, while Mission Shakti Commissioner-cum-Secretary Girish S.N. welcomed the participants. Mission Shakti Director Dr. Monika Priyadarshini proposed the vote of thanks.
