A high-level review meeting on women’s safety, security, and empowerment was held today at Lok Seva Bhawan, Bhubaneswar, in the presence of Vijaya Rahatkar, Chairperson of the National Commission for Women (NCW).
The meeting, chaired by Chief Secretary Anu Garg, was attended by senior state officials, including the Additional Chief Secretary of Home, Industry, and I&PR Departments, the Director General of Police, and Secretaries from key departments such as Women & Child Development, Mission Shakti, SSEPD, Higher Education, School & Mass Education, and SC&ST Development. All District Collectors and district-level officers joined via video conferencing.
Detailed presentations were made by the Women & Child Development Department, Mission Shakti Department, and Home Department, showcasing Odisha’s convergent and multi-dimensional approach to women’s empowerment and safety.
Chief Secy Garg highlighted the state’s flagship initiatives, including the Subhadra Scheme, Lakhpati Didi programme under Mission Shakti, Mission Shakti Cafes, POSHAN, creche services, PMMVY, women-centric skill development programmes, and various entitlements implemented across departments.
In her keynote address, NCW Chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar lauded the Odisha Government for its proactive efforts and robust institutional mechanisms in ensuring women’s safety and security. She specifically appreciated the success of the Subhadra Scheme and the Lakhpati Didi initiative, which have significantly promoted women’s economic independence and leadership.
Rahatkar commended innovative interventions such as the Shakti App — developed in collaboration with UNFPA — for enabling a technology-driven, coordinated response to gender-based violence cases. She also praised programmes like **ADVIKA** and the Higher Education Department’s SHAKTISHREE initiative for empowering adolescents and young women.
The NCW Chairperson stressed the need to expedite the disposal of pending cases related to trafficking and gender-based violence (GBV) to ensure timely justice. She called for stricter implementation of the POSH Act and other women’s protection laws, along with continued inter-departmental convergence at state and district levels.
Rahatkar further recommended the establishment of “Tere Mere Sapne” — a Pre-Marital Communication Centre — in every district under the leadership of District Collectors to promote harmonious marriages and family wellbeing.
The meeting reaffirmed the Odisha Government’s strong commitment to creating an environment where every woman can live with safety, dignity, and equal opportunity.
