Bhubaneswar: The 33rd Foundation Day of the Odisha State Commission for Women was celebrated at the Convention Centre in Lok Seva Bhavan, Bhubaneswar, with Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida inaugurating the programme as the chief guest.
Ministers Mukesh Mahaling (Family Welfare, Health, Parliamentary Affairs, Electronics and Information Technology) and Sampad Chandra Swain (Industries, Skill Development and Technical Education), along with Commission Chairperson Shobhana Mohanty, were present at the event.
On the occasion, the Deputy Chief Minister released the Commission’s annual report, its newsletter ‘Bijayini’, the book ‘Passport to Women Empowerment’, and the Commission’s newly launched website. A special compilation titled ‘Punar Milan’, featuring stories of successfully reunited couples, was also unveiled. Individuals who have excelled in various fields were felicitated during the programme.
Addressing the gathering, Parida said the state government believes not merely in women’s development, but in the larger vision of “women-led development.” She stressed the need to eliminate violence, crimes against women, and gender inequality, ensuring timely justice and equal opportunities.
She appreciated the Commission’s unique initiative of presenting fruit baskets instead of traditional flower bouquets to chairpersons on Foundation Day, describing it as a thoughtful and creative gesture. Recalling her earlier appeal to distribute fruits at Anganwadi centres to tackle malnutrition at the grassroots level, she underlined that proper nutrition is a shared responsibility of society.
Praising the Commission’s work, the Deputy Chief Minister encouraged women to move forward with confidence and resilience. She reiterated the state government’s commitment to making women self-reliant through various developmental and empowerment schemes.
Minister Mukesh Mahaling said that building a healthy nation begins with a healthy state, which in turn depends on the well-being of women. Highlighting key public welfare initiatives, he referred to the ‘Khusi’ scheme that provides free sanitary napkins to adolescent girls. He also spoke about the special campaign for a worm-free Odisha, under which deworming medicines are being distributed to children aged 1 to 19 years and women of reproductive age (20 to 49 years).
He urged members of the State Commission for Women to continue their dedicated efforts to bring about positive social change.
Minister Sampad Chandra Swain emphasized the government’s initiatives for skill development among girl students. He noted that girls from Odisha have earned recognition at international platforms through advanced training at World Skill Centres. He called upon all stakeholders to work together in building a healthy, safe, and empowered society.
Chairperson Shobhana Mohanty, in her address, highlighted the Commission’s achievements in addressing gender-based violence and crimes against women. She said the Commission handles cases of domestic violence, marital disputes, dowry harassment, dowry deaths, suicides, and sexual exploitation at both personal and workplace levels through a structured and regular complaint redressal mechanism.
The Foundation Day celebration underscored the state’s continued focus on strengthening institutional support systems to ensure justice, dignity, and empowerment for women across Odisha.
