Odisha Speaker: Women at the Heart of Governance
Odisha Assembly Speaker Surama Padhy has reaffirmed the state’s commitment to empowering women across governance, law-making, and budget preparation.
Speaking at the All India Capacity Building Conference in New Delhi, she highlighted that women are central to Odisha’s development agenda, with initiatives spanning grassroots empowerment, entrepreneurship, health, and safety.
Padhy noted that nearly 70 lakh women are engaged through six lakh Self-Help Groups (SHGs) under Mission Shakti, strengthening their role as entrepreneurs and community leaders.
Special programs for adolescent girls’ nutrition aim to reduce maternal and child mortality, while self-defence training is being provided to female students in 730 colleges and 16 universities.
The conference, organised by the National Commission for Women (NCW) and inaugurated by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, focused on leadership, communication, and gender-responsive governance.
Odisha’s delegation included BJD Chief Whip Pramila Mallik and legislators Subasini Jena, Sujata Sahu, Seemarani Nayak, Manorama Mohanty, Sofia Firdous, Upasna Mohapatra, and Barsha Singh Bariha.
Padhy emphasised that Odisha’s governance model places women at the forefront, ensuring their voices shape policies and programs that impact society at large.
