In a grand state-level celebration of International Women’s Day, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi delivered an empowering speech urging every girl in Odisha to dream fearlessly and break societal barriers.
The event, held at the Convention Hall at Lok Seva Bhawan, highlighted the government’s ongoing commitment to women empowerment and introduced new initiatives aimed at promoting women’s safety and preventing child marriage.
In his address, Chief Minister Majhi emphasized that true empowerment goes beyond financial aid. “The real meaning of empowerment is not giving any financial assistance to women. Its real meaning is the right to take decisions at the family and social level,” he said. He reaffirmed the government’s dedication to achieving this comprehensive goal, aiming to empower women economically, socially, and politically.
One of the key highlights of the event was the rollout of the ‘Shakti’ app across the state. This state-of-the-art digital system is designed to provide immediate emergency safety assistance to women at the click of a button. “Through this app, every woman in Odisha will have a shield of safety, a companion in times of disaster, and a tool for empowerment,” the Chief Minister stated.
Additionally, the Chief Minister launched the ‘Odisha State Strategic Action Plan,’ set to be implemented from 2024 to 2029, with the aim of preventing child marriage and furthering women’s empowerment.
Chief Minister Majhi paid tribute to the contributions of women in various fields, both historically and in contemporary times. He highlighted the significant roles played by women in Indian culture and tradition, mentioning notable figures such as Gargi, Maitri, Sita, Savitri, the Queen of Jhansi, and Kasturba Gandhi. He also acknowledged the contributions of women like Kuntala Kumari Savat, Ma Rama Devi, Malati Chaudhary, Annapurna Maharana, and others who were messengers of social change in Odisha.
The Chief Minister also recognized the remarkable work of recent women leaders, including President Daupadi Murmu, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly Surma Padhi, and Deputy Chief Minister Parvathi Parida. He urged everyone to join the journey of women empowerment, emphasizing the creation of a future that is courageous, inclusive, and free of gender discrimination.
Deputy Chief Minister and Minister for Women and Child Development Pravati Parida echoed the Chief Minister’s sentiments, stating, “Without the protection of women, economic and social progress is worthless.”
She thanked everyone working at the grassroots level for the success of the Subhadra Yojana and emphasized the government’s commitment to creating a safe environment for women’s growth.
The event concluded with the felicitation of state-level winners, including District Social Welfare Officer Nabarangpur Daupadi Kahur, District Child Protection Officer Sundargarh Shrivant Jena, Anganwadi worker Yashswini Mohapatra from Rayagada district, and others. Their contributions in preventing maternal and child mortality and child marriage in rural areas were highly praised.
