Bhubaneswar: Women empowerment is something that is very close to his heart, said Biju Janata Dal (BJD) president Naveen Patnaik.
Speaking at the Biju Mahila Dal’s State Executive Committee meeting here today at Sankha Bhawan, the party’s headquarters, Patnaik said, “I have been always saying it is my firm belief that without the empowerment of women no society, no state or country can ever progress. Women empowerment is not a slogan for us; it is our party’s mantra for progress”.
Stating that it’s a matter of joy that women of Odisha today are empowered and their role in all spheres of development is visible, Patnaik added that they have now become equal partners in Odisha’s development.
He said that now women are taking leadership roles in villages and are actively involved in the development of the panchayats.
The BJD president stated that Mission Shakti has become the power centre of women. Be it paddy procurement, management of Aahar Centres in cities, electricity meter reading, or Jal Saathi, or watch and ward of schools transformed under 5T, women are effectively discharging their responsibilities.
Women are in the forefront in all good work be it fish farming in village ponds, or renovation of water bodies in urban areas, he said. Mission Shakti Cafe is now giving a message of nutrition to the entire state, he added.
Patnaik said that last year Rs 11,000 crore was given as loans to women and interest to the tune of more than Rs 250 crore has been refunded.
He informed that to fulfil the mobility needs of women Scooter Yojana is going to be launched for which interest-free loans up to Rs 1 lakh will be given. Mobility of women will further strengthen development, he added.
“We have started work to take Mission Shakti to the next level, to produce women entrepreneurs.”
“The most important thing is women’s rights. While women are empowered at the grassroots level, they are less visible at the state and national levels. We must raise our voice for one-third reservation in parliament and assembly constituencies,” Patnaik pointed out.
He said, Biju Janata Dal will continue to fight for women’s rights from villages to parliament.
“You are all aware of our good work. Take the message of development, of empowerment to people, to every household in every village, and every town. The story of Biju Janata Dal is the story of transformation of Odisha. Be with people, serve the people and be an agent of transformation of our great state,” the BJD president said.
