Bhubaneswar: Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida on Sunday graced the second day of the Subhadra Shakti Leadership Conference, organised by the Mission Shakti Department at Konark in Puri district.
Addressing the gathering on the occasion of International Women’s Day, Parida said women today are no longer confined to their homes and have emerged as a powerful force driving social and economic transformation. “Through Mission Shakti, lakhs of women in Odisha are becoming self-reliant and achieving new milestones,” she added.
She emphasised that the Subhadra Shakti Leadership Conference would further strengthen women’s leadership, helping them transition from Self-Help Groups (SHGs) to Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), and play a pivotal role in boosting the rural economy and community development. Parida noted that greater leadership and participation of women would accelerate overall state development.
Highlighting her vision for the future, she said the state aims to create more “Lakhpati” and “Maha Lakhpati Didis,” who will establish new enterprises and achieve financial independence in the coming years.
The two-day program saw the participation of 90 Presidents and Secretaries of Women Federations from Bargarh, Rayagada, Sambalpur, and Koraput districts. The conference included training on leadership development, skill enhancement, start-up opportunities, and financial empowerment.
Dr. Monica Priyadarshini, Director of the Mission Shakti Department, along with senior officials, attended the event. Officials said the initiative is expected to play a key role in nurturing leadership qualities among women and empowering them to emerge as confident agents of social change.
