THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

BHUBANESWAR, OCTOBER 26, 2026

In a major push to strengthen women-led enterprises and promote economic self-reliance, the Odisha government has launched a state-level capacity-building programme to equip 320 directors from 64 women-led Producer Companies with skills in business management, financial planning and market expansion.

Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida on Monday inaugurated the two-day State-Level Capacity Building Training Programme for board members of Women Producer Companies at Mission Shakti Bhawan in Pokhariput here.

The initiative, undertaken by the Department of Mission Shakti in collaboration with the Xavier Institute of Management, Bhubaneswar (XIMB), and the National Institute for Social Work and Social Sciences (NISWASS), seeks to strengthen the governance and entrepreneurial capabilities of women-led businesses across the state.

Addressing the participants, Parida said women associated with Self-Help Groups (SHGs) had made remarkable progress by moving beyond individual production to establish producer groups and companies, collectively managing their businesses and enterprises.

Their determination, courage and entrepreneurial spirit had enabled them to achieve significant milestones, she said, adding that the state government was extending comprehensive support to women entrepreneurs through budgetary assistance, interest-free bank loans, training and skill development initiatives.

The programme will be conducted in 13 batches between October 26 and December 22, covering 320 board of directors (BoD) members from 64 Women Producer Companies. These include 63 companies established under the Agriculture Production Cluster (APC) initiative and one Millet Producer Company.

In the inaugural batch, 25 board members representing five Women Producer Companies from Angul district participated in the training.

The programme will focus on Farmer Producer Organisation (FPO) governance, leadership development, financial management, business planning and market linkages, with an emphasis on equipping women directors to manage their enterprises more efficiently and identify new business opportunities.

The initiative is expected to strengthen the institutional and managerial capacities of women-led companies, improve market access, enhance incomes and create greater opportunities for sustainable business growth.

By enabling women to take more effective leadership roles in collective enterprises, the programme also aims to accelerate their transition from Lakhpati Didis to Mahalakhpati Didis, reinforcing the state's efforts to build a stronger and more prosperous women-led economy.

The initiative underscores the growing emphasis on transforming women's collective strength through SHGs into sustainable business ventures capable of generating higher incomes, creating economic opportunities and promoting financial independence across rural Odisha.