Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik emphasised that the empowerment of girls and women, as well as their financial independence, is at the heart of the state government's programmes. The Chief Minister, speaking at the national conference of the Odisha State Commission for Women, remarked that no household, society, or country has progressed without women's empowerment.
He described Mission Shakti as one of the government's hallmark programmes, noting that it includes 70 lakh women from all habitations across the state. Mission Shakti represents the change that is taking place in Odisha.
According to Naveen, the state has set aside 50% of panchayat seats for women. Over 55% of women were elected in the recently finished local body elections. At least 21 of the 30 presidents of Zilla Parishads are women. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Biju Janata Dal earmarked one-third of its seats for women, a first for any political party, he noted.
In addition, the government has developed a number of women's welfare programmes. The Mamata initiative empowers pregnant women by providing financial support at a time when they are most vulnerable. Similarly, the Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana (BSKY), the State's health-insurance policy, covers women for up to ten lakh rupees, according to Naveen.
