Bhubaneswar, August 28: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Chandra Majhi stated on Friday that the true essence of women’s empowerment lies in making women self-reliant socially, politically, and economically, while granting them the right to make their own decisions.
The Chief Minister made these remarks during a special event in Lathipada, Nayagarh district, where he distributed the fifth installment of financial aid of ₹5,000 under the state’s flagship women’s empowerment initiative, the Subhadra Scheme.
In his speech, Majhi emphasized that mere assistance is not enough. It is essential to empower women to become self-reliant and make independent decisions. The fifth installment of financial aid under the Subhadra Scheme was distributed in Nayagarh district in the presence of the Chief Minister.
To date, over ₹5,163 crore has been disbursed to 10,326,162 beneficiaries across the state, including 233,585 beneficiaries from Nayagarh district.
Addressing the Subhadra mothers and sisters present at the event, Majhi remarked that the Subhadra Scheme is not merely an opportunity for financial allocation but a symbol of the government’s commitment to women’s empowerment and the state’s female population.
Citing survey reports from IIM Sambalpur and the State Bank of India, he noted that nearly 80% of women have not only used the Subhadra assistance for their daily needs but have also invested it in long-term financial security, business ventures, and developmental activities.
According to the survey, 87.19% of beneficiaries found the Subhadra Scheme to be extremely beneficial. He mentioned that a women entrepreneurship platform has been established to provide guidance, skill training, market access, and financial assistance to women looking to start their own businesses.
The Chief Minister expressed his satisfaction that Odisha has achieved the distinction of creating 2.7 million wealthy women, becoming the first state in the country to reach this milestone ahead of schedule. He assured the people of Nayagarh that, with the support of the central government, a sugar mill will soon be established in Nayagarh, and work on the Brutanga irrigation project will commence shortly.
The event was attended by various dignitaries, including Chairperson Surma Padhi, Deputy Chief Minister Prabhati Parida, Puri MP Sambit Patra, and Kandhamal MP Sukanta Panigrahi.
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