Odisha launches specialized cosmetology & entrepreneurship training for SHG women under Mission Shakti

THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

BHUBANESWAR, SEPTEMBER 1, 2025

Odisha has taken a pioneering step towards women’s empowerment and economic self-reliance with the launch of a specialized 12-week training programme in cosmetology and entrepreneurship at the World Skill Center, Bhubaneswar. The initiative, inaugurated on Monday, is tailored exclusively for members of Self-Help Groups (SHGs) under the state government’s flagship Mission Shakti programme.

The training programme is the outcome of a Memorandum of Understanding signed between the World Skill Center and the Mission Shakti Department. It aims to equip SHG women with professional expertise in beauty and wellness, along with entrepreneurial knowledge, enabling them to build sustainable enterprises and secure livelihoods.

Highlighting the transformative vision of the programme, Dr. Monica Priyadarshini, Director of Mission Shakti, described it as a launchpad for dignity, dreams, and financial independence. “This training is more than just a course — it’s a launchpad for dreams, dignity, and financial independence. Become entrepreneurs, become employment creators,” she urged the participants.

Rashmita Panda, Director of the Directorate of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (DSDE) and CEO of the Odisha Skill Development Authority (OSDA) and World Skill Center, echoed these sentiments. She emphasized that the initiative is designed to create a strong ecosystem for women. “We are building a robust ecosystem — equipping SHG women not just with skills, but with the tools, networks, and support needed to thrive as entrepreneurs in their own districts. This initiative is aligned with the vision of creating ‘Lakhpati Didis’ and promoting greater self-dependence among women,” she said.

The intensive programme combines hands-on training in cosmetology, beauty therapy, and salon management with modules in financial literacy, business planning, customer service, and entrepreneurship development. The first batch consists of 21 SHG women from eight districts, who will be empowered to either start their own ventures or secure opportunities in the rapidly growing beauty and wellness sector.

The inauguration ceremony witnessed the presence of senior officials from both Mission Shakti and the World Skill Center, including Pinaki Patnaik, Chief Operating Officer; Dr. Abinash Rout, Additional Secretary, Mission Shakti Department; Bruce Poh, Chief Skills Officer; T. Thambyrajah, Principal; Jeetamitra Satpathy, Deputy Principal; Lim Lai Soon, Senior Director, School of Services; and Dr. Jayant Dash, Plastic Surgeon, KIMS and owner of Dasthetix. Their participation underscored the collaborative framework and institutional backing for the initiative.