Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik announced several initiatives to strengthen the Mission Shakti movement. All districts will receive Rs 1 crore each for the establishment of Mission Shakti Bhawan, the CM said. The objective is to empower women by making the movement even stronger.
“Odisha is the only state where there is a special department for Mission Shakti mothers,” Patnaik said. The CM also expressed his delight around the success of the Mission Shakti program, which was launched two decades ago. The movement today benefits more than 70 lakh women in Odisha.
Patnaik laid the foundation stone for the Mission Shakti market in Bhubaneswar and promised that more markets would be created across the state in the coming days. Mission Shakti’s online marketing website was also launched, which will enable members to sell their products all over the world.
The CM went on to add that women members of SHGs will be appointed as Bank Sakhis in the unbanked panchayats.
An amount of Rs 217 crore has been earmarked for meeting salaries and travel allowance of members of SHGs for panchayat and block level federations. Patnaik has also issued a directive to resolve all the issues faced by the SHGs.
Hailing the role of women SHGs in containing the spread of coronavirus, the chief minister said Odisha is indebted to them. The state government has also decided to engage the SHGs in government activities.
Meanwhile, the state has also announced other welfare packages for the people ahead of the panchayat and civic body polls.
The chief minister sanctioned payment of Rs 1,000 per family for beneficiaries of the Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana (BSKY). An amount of Rs 960 crore would be transferred to the bank accounts under the cash assistance programme.
“Welfare of the poor is an important programme of the State government. The first two waves of the Covid pandemic were a challenge. This has badly impacted the social and economic lives of people. The poor have suffered a lot. The impact of Covid has not faded. The government is providing assistance to alleviate the suffering,” Patnaik said.