Odisha government has signed four key MoUs under the Mission Shakti initiative

Bhubaneswar:18/9/25:In a major push to strengthen women-led self-help groups (SHGs), the Odisha government has signed four key Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) under the Mission Shakti initiative.

Deputy Chief Minister Smt. Pravati Parida announced that Rs 110.97 crore will be credited to the accounts of 1.63 lakh SHGs as a grant towards bank loan repayment.

The MoUs were signed with the Food Industry Capacity and Skill Initiative (FICSI), Telecom Sector Skill Council (TSSC), Gem and Jewellery Skill Council of India (GJSCI), and the National Commission for Women (NCW). These partnerships aim to provide skill development, entrepreneurship training, and self-defense programs to thousands of women across Odisha.

Under the FICSI MoU, 10,000 SHG members will receive residential training in fruit pulp processing, spice preparation, oil extraction, multi-skill techniques, and dehydration of fruits and vegetables. The TSSC pilot project will train 60 women from 30 gram panchayats in Cuttack district on mobile handset repair, with plans to scale across the state.

The GJSCI collaboration will train 1,440 women in silver filigree craftsmanship and connect them to e-commerce platforms for market access. Meanwhile, the NCW partnership will offer self-defense training to SHG members aged 18–40 in five districts, promoting confidence, safety awareness, and group solidarity.

Additionally, Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages Pvt. Ltd. donated a transparent-door refrigerator to the Subhadra Shakti Café under its CSR initiative.

Deputy CM Parida emphasized that under the guidance of Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, Mission Shakti is committed to creating grassroots women-led enterprises and promoting Odisha’s tribal arts and crafts. The event was attended by senior officials including Mission Shakti Commissioner Smt. Shalini Pandit, Director Dr. Monica Priyadarshini, and representatives from partner organizations.