9-day Subhadra mela gets underway in city | Bhubaneswar News
Bhubaneswar: To give a push to women-led economic empowerment, chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Saturday inaugurated the nine-day Subhadra Shakti Mela at Janata Maidan here. The event, organised by the Mission Shakti department, showcased over 700 SHGs displaying over 200 products, including handicrafts, millet-based goods, organic produce, terracotta, and bamboo crafts.
Addressing the gathering, chief minister Majhi said the mela is not merely an exhibition but a celebration of Odisha’s ‘Subhadra Maa’ (women) and their entrepreneurial spirit. “The Subhadra scheme is the largest economic initiative in Odisha’s history, designed to awaken the inherent power of women into financially independent entrepreneurs,” Majhi said.
The CM announced that for the financial year 2024-25, more than three lakh SHGs will receive interest relief amounting to ₹300 crores on bank loans up to Rs 10 lakh. Revolving funds for SHGs doubled from Rs 15,000 to Rs 30,000 per group. Community investment funds for gram panchayat-level federations increased from Rs 35 lakh to Rs 60 lakh. Majhi also highlighted the govt’s commitment to creating 25 lakh Lakhpati Didis in the next three years through the Lakhpati Didi Sahayika Yojana.
Mentioning that empowering women is central to achieving a prosperous Odisha by 2036, Majhi said, “When one crore mothers invest their Subhadra funds into enterprises, it will revolutionise Odisha’s economy.” He further stated that they will not remain silent after giving Rs 50,000 to women over five years. On the Subhadra platform, the state govt will soon launch many more schemes like Kishori Subhadra, Subhadra Savings, Subhadra Sakhi, Subhadra Yatri, Subhadra Sangha or Club, Kuhu Subhadra or Subhadra Call Center, Subhadra Sahayogi, Subhadra Pandit, and Sujogya Subhadra.
The mela symbolises the state’s focus on transforming SHGs into livelihood hubs, said deputy chief minister Pravati Parida. “Women SHGs showcased the rich cultural heritage and women’s resilience,” she added.
She emphasized that the Subhadra Yojana, the largest scheme in Odisha’s economic history, has already benefited over 98 lakh women with disbursements exceeding ₹4,900 crores. The govt has allocated ₹10,145 crores for the Subhadra scheme in the upcoming financial year. On March 8, on the occasion of International Women’s Day, an additional Rs 5,000 will be given as the second instalment to the mothers.
Addressing the gathering, chief minister Majhi said the mela is not merely an exhibition but a celebration of Odisha’s ‘Subhadra Maa’ (women) and their entrepreneurial spirit. “The Subhadra scheme is the largest economic initiative in Odisha’s history, designed to awaken the inherent power of women into financially independent entrepreneurs,” Majhi said.
The CM announced that for the financial year 2024-25, more than three lakh SHGs will receive interest relief amounting to ₹300 crores on bank loans up to Rs 10 lakh. Revolving funds for SHGs doubled from Rs 15,000 to Rs 30,000 per group. Community investment funds for gram panchayat-level federations increased from Rs 35 lakh to Rs 60 lakh. Majhi also highlighted the govt’s commitment to creating 25 lakh Lakhpati Didis in the next three years through the Lakhpati Didi Sahayika Yojana.
Mentioning that empowering women is central to achieving a prosperous Odisha by 2036, Majhi said, “When one crore mothers invest their Subhadra funds into enterprises, it will revolutionise Odisha’s economy.” He further stated that they will not remain silent after giving Rs 50,000 to women over five years. On the Subhadra platform, the state govt will soon launch many more schemes like Kishori Subhadra, Subhadra Savings, Subhadra Sakhi, Subhadra Yatri, Subhadra Sangha or Club, Kuhu Subhadra or Subhadra Call Center, Subhadra Sahayogi, Subhadra Pandit, and Sujogya Subhadra.
The mela symbolises the state’s focus on transforming SHGs into livelihood hubs, said deputy chief minister Pravati Parida. “Women SHGs showcased the rich cultural heritage and women’s resilience,” she added.
She emphasized that the Subhadra Yojana, the largest scheme in Odisha’s economic history, has already benefited over 98 lakh women with disbursements exceeding ₹4,900 crores. The govt has allocated ₹10,145 crores for the Subhadra scheme in the upcoming financial year. On March 8, on the occasion of International Women’s Day, an additional Rs 5,000 will be given as the second instalment to the mothers.
