THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

BHUBANESWAR, MARCH 7, 2026

Ahead of International Women’s Day, the Department of Mission Shakti on Saturday inaugurated the “Subhadra Shakti Leadership Conference” at Konark, setting the stage for a major capacity-building initiative aimed at strengthening women’s leadership and entrepreneurship across Odisha. The six-day conference has brought together around 700 presidents and secretaries of Mission Shakti block-level federations, along with district and block-level officials representing all 30 districts of the state.

The conference is designed as an intensive platform for leadership development, knowledge sharing and enterprise promotion among women associated with the Mission Shakti movement. On the opening day, 90 federation presidents and secretaries from Khordha, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur and Nayagarh districts took part in the programme, marking the beginning of a series of training and interaction sessions scheduled over the next several days.

Addressing the gathering, Manasi Nimbhal, Commissioner-cum-Secretary of the Mission Shakti Department, highlighted the transformative role played by women in shaping resilient communities and driving inclusive growth. She said, “Women represent strength, resilience and success. Today, Mission Shakti has emerged as a successful model of women’s empowerment recognised across the country. The ‘Subhadra Shakti Leadership Conference’ will further strengthen women’s leadership and create new opportunities for entrepreneurship and leadership development among them.”

As part of the conference, experienced trainers from the Xavier Institute of Management conducted specialised sessions aimed at helping Self-Help Groups (SHGs) evolve into Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). The training modules focused on equipping women leaders with practical knowledge and strategic insights required to expand and manage sustainable enterprises.

Key discussions during the sessions covered critical areas such as skill development, start-up opportunities, digital literacy and financial literacy. These themes were designed to empower SHG leaders with the tools necessary to navigate modern markets, adopt technology-driven solutions and improve financial decision-making.

The conference also emphasised the importance of fostering entrepreneurship among rural women and encouraging them to establish new ventures. Participants were motivated to explore innovative enterprise ideas and strengthen existing businesses, thereby enhancing their income and economic independence.

Officials noted that such initiatives are aligned with the state government’s broader vision of creating a strong network of financially empowered women entrepreneurs. Through leadership development and enterprise support, the programme aims to accelerate the emergence of more “Lakhpati Didis” and “Maha Lakhpati Didis” in Odisha in the coming years.

Additional Secretaries, Deputy Secretaries and other senior officials of the Mission Shakti Department were also present at the conference, underscoring the government’s continued commitment to strengthening the Mission Shakti ecosystem and advancing women-led development across the state.