THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

BHUBANESWAR, JUNE 24, 2026

Odisha has achieved a major milestone in women’s economic empowerment by creating 26.39 lakh Lakhpati Didis, surpassing the State’s target nearly a year ahead of schedule, Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida announced on Wednesday while addressing the State-level Subhadra Shakti Vision Summit at Mission Shakti Bhawan in Bhubaneswar.

The summit, organised by the Mission Shakti Department, brought together around 330 Executive Committee members of District Level Federations (DLFs) from all 30 districts of Odisha.

On the occasion, the Deputy Chief Minister, who also holds the portfolios of Women & Child Development, Mission Shakti and Tourism, released Rs 147.76 crore as Interest Subvention support to 2,88,198 Self-Help Groups (SHGs) across the State.

As part of the programme, 23,536 SHGs from 26 districts received Rs 45.71 crore as Revolving Fund (RF) assistance. Representatives of Maa Mangala SHG and Sriram SHG from Khordha district were handed cheques of Rs 30,000 each by the Deputy Chief Minister.

Further strengthening women-led community institutions, 624 Gram Panchayat Level Federations (GPLFs) from 27 districts were provided Rs 189.57 crore under the Community Investment Fund (CIF). Representatives of Abhayamukhi GPLF and Gualipada GPLF from Puri district received cheques worth Rs 35 lakh each from the Minister.

In addition, 656 Area Level Federations (ALFs) from 15 districts were sanctioned Rs 9.64 crore under the Vulnerability Reduction Fund (VRF). Representatives from Rampur and Jahna ALFs of Jajpur district received cheques of Rs 1.50 lakh each.

Addressing the gathering, Parida said that the Odisha Government has envisioned transforming the State into a prosperous and developed economy by 2036, with women playing a pivotal role in driving this transformation. She emphasized that empowering every SHG member as a self-reliant entrepreneur remains a key priority of the Government.

Highlighting the success of the Lakhpati Didi initiative, the Deputy Chief Minister announced that Odisha has surpassed its target ahead of schedule and has successfully created 26,39,909 Lakhpati Didis, crossing the 25-lakh milestone nearly a year before the stipulated timeline.

The summit witnessed extensive deliberations on women’s role in Odisha Vision-2036, the creation of Lakhpati Didi, Mahalakshpati Didi and Crorepati Didi entrepreneurs, promotion of women-led enterprises, strengthening of Producer Groups and Producer Companies, market linkages, financial inclusion, and the sharing of successful entrepreneurship models from different districts.

Mission Shakti Department Commissioner-cum-Secretary Manasi Nimbhal, Director Dr. Monika Priyadarshini, General Manager and Convenor, SLBC Odisha, Pranab Kumar Biswas, along with senior officials of the Department, representatives of District Level Federations, banking institutions and partner organisations, were present on the occasion. District-level officials and Mission Shakti members from across the State also participated in the programme through virtual mode.