THEBUSINESSBYTES
BUREAU
BHUBANESWAR,
AUGUST 31, 2026
The National
Commission for Women (NCW), in collaboration with the Odisha government, will
organise its first ‘Shakti Summit – State WCD Leadership Conclave’ here from
September 1 to 3, bringing together senior Women and Child Development
officials from 25 states to strengthen institutional responses to issues
concerning women’s safety, protection and empowerment.
The three-day summit
will be inaugurated by Odisha Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida in the
presence of Chief Secretary Anu Garg and NCW Chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar.
The summit, themed “समन्वय
| संवाद
| संकल्प
| समाधान”,
will bring together Principal Secretaries, Commissioners and senior leadership
of Women and Child Development departments from participating states, besides
other key stakeholders.
The conclave will
provide a platform for states to share their experiences and best practices,
identify implementation gaps and strengthen Centre-State convergence on issues
relating to women and children.
Key deliberations
will focus on the implementation and monitoring of the Prevention of Sexual
Harassment (POSH) Act, strengthening One Stop Centres and victim compensation
mechanisms, enhancing the role of Protection Officers under the Protection of
Women from Domestic Violence Act, and empowering State Women Commissions.
As part of the
collaboration with the Odisha government, the NCW has also undertaken a
dedicated self-defence training initiative under Mission Shakti, through which
5,000 women have been trained over the past six months across Khordha, Cuttack,
Keonjhar, Balangir and Puri districts.
As many as 300 women
belonging to Self-Help Groups will showcase their skills at the ‘Shakti Show’ –
Parade for Self Defence on September 2 at KIIT in Bhubaneswar.
The parade will
highlight the skills, confidence and preparedness developed by women through
the self-defence training programme.
The summit will also
feature an Open Forum and Action Resolution aimed at facilitating inter-State
discussions on standardising standard operating procedures and strengthening
implementation across a range of areas.
The discussions will
cover issues including POSHAN Abhiyaan, Free Child Marriage Abhiyaan,
breastfeeding rooms and crèches, as well as mechanisms for addressing acid
attacks.
The three-day deliberations will culminate in the adoption of a Joint Action Plan aimed at strengthening institutional responses and improving coordination and implementation across states.
The Shakti Summit is expected to provide a common platform for states to evolve coordinated approaches and translate shared experiences into stronger mechanisms for the safety, protection and empowerment of women and children.
