I am happy that this Make in Odisha edition has given a specific focus on Women Entrepreneur.
And I am delighted to see some of the prominent names present here.
I look forward to the deliberations today. We will definitely like to work on the suggestions that come out from today’s Meet.
Women’s Empowerment is something that is very close to my heart. No household, no society, no State and no country has ever moved forward without empowering its women.
From the day, I assumed office in 2000, my Government has always been conscious of the great role women can play, especially in a State like Odisha which had challenging socio-economic indicators. Whether it was IMR, MMR, life expectancy or female literacy, we had an uphill task.
In 2001, We started Mission Shakti as a project. Today, it has transformed into a movement – 70 lakh women, 6 lakh groups, Rupees 5 thousand crore savings, Rupees 2 thousand crore annual bank exposure.
There is no habitation in the State without a Mission Shakti group. Almost every second household has a member in Mission Shakti. We have had the highest drop in Maternal Mortality Rate. Our Infant Mortality Rate is better than the national average. Our institutional delivery is a record 90 per cent. Ownership of property by women is one of the highest in the country. Above all, one of the most satisfying things for me, personally, is that we could add 10 years to the average life expectancy of every woman born in Odisha.
Some years ago, a Collector of a tribal district told me that banks compete with each other to finance Mission Shakti groups. The repayment is more than 95 per cent unlike many others.
My Government honours their sincerity by providing SHGs loans at one per cent – the Mission Shakti loans.
I know many of our banker friends are here. The easiest way to please me and my Government is to meet the credit requirement of Mission Shakti groups in a dignified and professional manner.
As far as Political Empowerment of women is concerned, Biju Babu was a pioneer who made 33 percent reservation for women in local bodies. My Government has increased it to 50 percent and it’s heartening to note that it is much more than 50 percent.
Our women have come a long way and the next ceiling to be broken is the digital one. My Government is aware that digital empowerment will further accelerate the social-political and economic empowerment of Women.
My dream is to see that every woman has access to the knowledge economy. As a first step my Government will digitally empower all the six lakh Mission Shakti groups with a smart phone.
Whenever my Government has made an initiative – whether Mamata or Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana or the Land Rights, the State always runs the extra mile for women.
As a Government we do so many things – institutions, buildings, bridges. Let me confess that whenever we have done anything for women, it has had the maximum impact for the State and given me the greatest personal satisfaction.
My deepest gratitude to the Women of Odisha who have given me this opportunity. You are the strength of our State and I see that as the Way Forward for……….. us.
