THEBUSINESSBYTES
BUREAU
BHUBANESWAR,
MARCH 6, 2026
Emphasising that a
balanced and progressive society can only be achieved through partnership rather
than competition between men and women, Additional Director General of the
Press Information Bureau (PIB) and Central Bureau of Communication (CBC) for
the Odisha and Jharkhand Region, Akhil Kumar Mishra, on Friday underscored the
need for collective efforts to bridge the digital gender divide and strengthen
women’s participation in society.
The Central Bureau of
Communication (CBC) and Press Information Bureau (PIB), Bhubaneswar, under the
Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, Government of India, organised a
special programme to celebrate International Women’s Day 2026, centred on the
theme “Bridging the Digital Gender Divide.”
The programme was
chaired by Akhil Kumar Mishra, Additional Director General, PIB & CBC
(Odisha and Jharkhand Region). Paramita Satpathy, former Principal Chief
Commissioner of Income Tax, Odisha, attended the event as the Chief Guest,
while Dr. Bibhabari Bal, Head of the Department of Sociology at BJB Autonomous
College, joined as the Chief Speaker. The event brought together students,
media professionals and communication officers to deliberate on issues of
digital inclusion and women’s empowerment.
Addressing the
gathering, Mishra reframed the concept of the “Digital Gender Divide” through
the lens of individual agency and India’s philosophical traditions. Drawing
references from narratives in the Ramayana and Mahabharata, he noted that
women’s dignity, strength and power of choice have long been embedded in
India’s cultural ethos. He emphasised that empowerment extends beyond mere
access to technology and must include the freedom and opportunity for women to
participate fully in all spheres of life. Stressing the importance of
cooperation between genders, he remarked that meaningful progress lies in men
and women moving forward together, supporting and strengthening one another to
build a balanced and inclusive society.
Speaking on the
occasion, Paramita Satpathy highlighted the remarkable progress women have
achieved across diverse sectors in recent years. She observed that women today
are steadily breaking barriers and expanding their presence in fields that were
once limited to them. While acknowledging individual success stories, she
emphasised that the larger objective should be ensuring collective empowerment
for all women. Encouraging the young students present at the event, Satpathy
urged them to build their own identity beyond professional achievements and
contribute meaningfully to society with confidence, commitment and a clear
sense of purpose.
In her address, Dr.
Bibhabari Bal pointed out that the digital gender divide is closely linked to
deeper social and structural inequalities that restrict women’s access to
technology and digital opportunities. She stressed that enhancing digital
literacy and strengthening technological capabilities among women is essential
for enabling their meaningful participation in today’s rapidly evolving digital
society.
As part of the celebration, several prominent women media professionals were felicitated for their valuable contributions to the media industry. The programme also witnessed active youth engagement through an interactive question-and-answer session with students from SOA University. A thematic drama performance by S&D staff artists further enriched the event and conveyed the message of gender equality and digital empowerment.
Earlier, Pradeep Kumar Choudhury, Assistant Director, CBC, delivered the welcome address. Participation certificates were distributed to students who actively took part in the programme during the concluding session. The vote of thanks was proposed by Sasmita Paikaray, Field Publicity Officer, CBC.
