Bhubaneswar, Aug 28 (IANS) Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Friday said the real meaning of women’s empowerment lies in making them self-reliant socially, politically and economically, and giving them the right to take decisions for themselves.
The Chief Minister was speaking during the distribution of the fifth instalment of financial assistance of Rs 5,000 under Subhadra Yojana, the state government’s flagship women’s empowerment scheme, at a special event in Lathipada, Nayagada district.
In his speech, Majhi explained that merely assisting was not enough; women must be empowered to become socially, politically and economically self-reliant and make decisions independently. On Friday, the fifth instalment of financial assistance under Subhadra Yojana was distributed in Nayagada district in the presence of the Chief Minister.
More than Rs 5,163 crore has been provided to 1,03,26,162 beneficiaries across the state, including 2,33,585 beneficiaries from Nayagada district.
Addressing the Subhadra mothers and sisters present on the occasion, Majhi said Subhadra Yojana was not merely an occasion for allocation of money but a symbol of women’s empowerment and the government’s commitment towards half of the state’s population.
Citing survey reports of IIM Sambalpur and the State Bank of India, he said around 80 per cent of women had not spent the Subhadra assistance only on their daily needs, but had utilised it for long-term financial security, business and developmental activities.
Referring to the survey, he pointed out that 87.19 per cent of beneficiaries had opined that Subhadra Yojana was extremely useful. Majhi added that women beneficiaries’ account balances and monthly expenditure had increased.
He said that through the Women Entrepreneurship Platform, formed to make women self-reliant, arrangements had been made to provide women with guidance to start businesses, skill training, market linkages and financial assistance, among other support.
The Chief Minister expressed happiness that Odisha had secured the first position in the country by creating 27 lakh Lakhpati Didis ahead of the stipulated target. On the occasion, he assured the people of Nayagada district that with the cooperation of the Central Government, the Nayagada sugar mill would be established soon and work on the Brutanga irrigation project would also commence.
Speaker Surama Padhy, Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida, Puri MP Sambit Patra and Kandhamal MP Sukanta Panigrahi, among others, attended the programme.
–IANS
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