Mission Shakti, XIMB Join Hands to Strengthen Women-Led Enterprises in Odisha

The programme was inaugurated by Odisha Deputy Chief Minister and Minister of Women and Child Development, Mission Shakti, Pravati Parida, at Mission Shakti Bhawan in Bhubaneswar.

During the launch, she emphasised the state government’s commitment to transforming women from Self-Help Group (SHG) members into successful entrepreneurs and business leaders.

Highlighting the evolution of women’s collectives in the state, Parida said SHGs have progressed into Producer Groups and Producer Companies, creating new opportunities for economic empowerment and rural development.

She noted that the government has been supporting these enterprises through interest-free loans, budgetary assistance, skill enhancement programmes, and market-oriented interventions.

The training initiative aims to enhance the managerial, governance, and business skills of women directors leading Producer Companies across Odisha.

The programme will cover key areas such as governance and leadership, financial management, business planning, and market linkages, helping participants build sustainable and competitive enterprises.

A total of 320 Board of Directors from 64 women-led Producer Companies, including 63 Agriculture Production Cluster (APC) companies and one Millet Producer Company, will benefit from the initiative.

The programme will be conducted in 13 batches, providing structured and focused training to participants from different districts.

The first batch comprises 25 directors representing five women-led Producer Companies from Angul district.

Through this partnership, the state government seeks to strengthen institutional leadership, improve market access, and enhance income opportunities for women entrepreneurs.

Officials said the initiative aligns with Odisha’s broader vision of creating financially empowered women entrepreneurs and advancing the goal of transforming “Lakhpati Didis” into “Mahalakhpati Didis.”