Bhubaneswar: Emphasising that women are the foundational force of society and the nation, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Friday said a large-scale mobilisation of women is a positive indicator for Odisha’s future progress.
Addressing the ‘Nari Shakti Vandan’ programme in Angul, the Chief Minister called on women to assume leadership roles from panchayats to Parliament and urged collective support for the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam. He asserted that holistic national development is not possible without the upliftment of women, describing women’s empowerment as the bedrock of a prosperous Odisha and a developed India.
Majhi said opposing the Women’s Reservation Act amounts to disrespecting women and their empowerment, warning that such opposition would not be accepted by society. Referring to India’s cultural ethos, he cited the Sanskrit verse “Yatra Naryastu Pujyante, Ramante Tatra Devatah” to underline the tradition of honouring women.
Highlighting the Centre’s vision, he said Narendra Modi’s emphasis on “development through women’s leadership” is opening new avenues, with women excelling across sectors including education, security, science, sports, and governance. He described Droupadi Murmu as an inspiring symbol of women’s empowerment.
Outlining Odisha government initiatives, the Chief Minister said economic independence is being promoted through schemes such as the Subhadra Scheme and the Lakhpati Didi programme, while support to underprivileged families is being extended under the Mukhya Mantri Kanya Bibaha Yojana.
He interacted with a beneficiary from Angul district who has taken up goat rearing under the Subhadra scheme to become self-reliant. The Chief Minister said Angul alone has over 90,000 Lakhpati Didis, while the state has more than 17 lakh such beneficiaries.
Under the Kanya Bibaha Yojana, assistance exceeding ₹1.71 crore has been provided for the marriage of 388 girls, with ₹11.83 crore allocated for the coming year, he added.
Majhi further said the current state budget has earmarked ₹1.22 lakh crore for women-focused initiatives, marking a 30 per cent increase in gender budgeting over the previous year. The allocation is expected to strengthen women’s education, skill development, and entrepreneurship.
Several public representatives and officials, including local MLAs and district authorities, were present at the event.
