In a significant step towards women’s economic empowerment, the Mission Shakti Department on Thursday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Tourism and Hospitality Skill Council (THSC) to enhance skill development and entrepreneurship opportunities for women Self-Help Group (SHG) members in Odisha.
The MoU was signed at Mission Shakti Bhawan in the presence of Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida. Mission Shakti Director Dr Monika Priyadarshini and THSC Chief Executive Officer Rajan Bahadur formally exchanged the agreement.
Speaking on the occasion, Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida described the initiative as a major milestone in women empowerment. She said the programme would play a key role in creating more “Lakhpati Didis” in the state by enabling women to enter the tourism and hospitality ecosystem through skill development and entrepreneurship.
She added that empowering women through professional skills and sustainable livelihoods would strengthen their financial independence and contribute significantly to inclusive economic growth.
Mission Shakti Commissioner-cum-Secretary Girish S N delivered the welcome address and provided a detailed overview of the objectives and scope of the MoU.
Under the agreement, women SHG members will be trained to establish and manage enterprises in tent services, catering, food supply, and event management. The training will cover business sustainability, professional skill enhancement, FSSAI certification, preparation of Detailed Project Reports (DPRs), procurement of equipment, and business expansion strategies.
A total of 4,000 women members from 1,000 SHGs will receive structured training under this initiative. The programme has been allocated a budget of ₹9.3 crore.
Officials said the initiative would not only improve employability but also enable women-led enterprises to participate actively in the growing tourism and hospitality sector of Odisha.
