THEBUSINESSBYTES
BUREAU
BHUBANESWAR,
SEPTEMBER 11, 2026
Odisha Deputy Chief
Minister Pravati Parida on Friday called upon women beneficiaries across the
state to light a lamp on September 17 under the ‘Aashirbad Ka Diya’ initiative,
saying each diya would symbolise women’s empowerment, gratitude and their
aspirations for a developed Odisha and India.
Chairing a review
meeting on the initiative, Parida urged Self-Help Groups (SHGs), Cluster Level
Federations (CLFs), Gram Panchayat Level Associations of Federations (GPLAFs),
block and district-level federations, Lakhpati Didis, Producer Groups and Producer
Companies to actively participate in the programme.
“If every woman beneficiary lights a lamp as a
symbol of gratitude and aspiration for Viksit Bharat 2047 and Viksit Odisha
2036, the entire State will glow with the light of women’s empowerment,” Parida
said.
“Each diya will represent the strength,
dignity and aspirations of our women and their contribution towards the
development of the State and the nation,” she said.
The meeting was
attended by Mission Shakti Secretary Mansi Nimbhal and Director Dr Monica
Banerjee, besides senior officials.
Chief Development
Officers, Block Development Officers, CLF members, GPLAF representatives and
SHG members from all 30 districts joined the meeting virtually.
The ‘Aashirbad Ka
Diya’ programme is part of the Odisha government's ‘Seva Sankalp Abhiyan–2026’,
scheduled to be observed across the state from September 17 to October 17.
The month-long campaign seeks to strengthen the spirit of service, collective participation and social responsibility, with women-led community organisations expected to play a significant role in taking the initiative to the grassroots.
The September 17 lamp-lighting programme is envisaged as a collective expression of gratitude and a symbolic reaffirmation of the aspirations of Odisha's women towards the state's development goal of Viksit Odisha 2036 and the national vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.
