Bhubaneswar:16/7/21: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today announced a COVID assistance of Rs 453.5 crore for women members of Mission Shakti in the state.
The package includes Rs 169 crore for construction of 338 block-level Mission Shakti Bhawans, provision of Rs 84.60 crore Revolving Fund for the 338 Mission Shakti Block level Federations for business development and Rs 200 crore towards interest subvention in Mission Shakti loans for self help groups (SHGs).
Speaking on the occasion, Patnaik said that Mission Shakti is a huge institution of 70 lakh women of Odisha. This is Odisha’s development force.
Expressing confidence in their ability, the Chief Minister said, “You go ahead, I am with you.”
Congratulating Mission Shakti women for their commendable job during the Covid pandemic, the Chief Minister said that today is a historic day. He said the Mission Shakti Bhawans to be constructed at the block level will be used for training, opening of sale counters for their products and for holding discussions on their programmes.
He said that during Covid starting from managing Temporary Medical Camps to manufacturing masks, spreading awareness among people, women have brought glory to the Mission Shakti movement.
“I have always said empowerment of women is the empowerment of the family. Society will be empowered. A race will be empowered. The course of history too shall change,” stated Patnaik.
Highlighting the success of Mission Shakti, the Chief Minister said, “You have done a good job starting from livelihood to participating in various development projects.”