The Planning and Convergence Department, Government of Odisha, in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), organised a Consultative Workshop on Sustainable Development Goal-5 (Gender Equality) titled “Reimagining Development through a Gender Lens – Inclusive, Safe, Sustainable” at Hotel LYFE, Bhubaneswar.
The workshop aimed to address pressing gender equality issues through a multi-stakeholder approach, focusing on mobility, women’s economic empowerment, gender-inclusive development, and community engagement.
In her keynote address, Ms. Anu Garg, IAS, Development Commissioner-cum-Additional Chief Secretary, highlighted Odisha’s initiatives in women’s economic empowerment, gender-inclusive services, and community participation. She emphasised the progress made and the need for stronger systems to achieve SDG-5 objectives. Manish Agarwal, IAS, Additional Secretary, P&C Department, delivered the welcome address, outlining the workshop’s goals, while Ms. Isabelle Tschan, Deputy Resident Representative, UNDP, stressed the importance of integrating gender perspectives into development policies.
The workshop featured four sessions. The first, chaired by Dr. Sudhanshu Sarangi, IPS, Director General, Fire Services & Civil Defence, Odisha, focused on “Mobility and Accessibility for All,” discussing safe and inclusive environments for women. Mr. Allagappan Ramanathan, UNDP’s Sustainable Transport & Mobility Specialist, presented insights from a study on women’s safety across 10 bus routes, citing Tamil Nadu as an example.
The second session, “Economic Empowerment of Women,” featured Ms. Bindhya Basini, a successful entrepreneur from Rayagada, sharing her journey as a Lakhpati Didi. Chaired by Mr. Amit Kumar, Head (Inclusive Growth), UNDP, the session addressed challenges in women’s workforce participation, entrepreneurship, skill development, and financial inclusion.
The third session, “Gender-Inclusive Development,” chaired by Ms. Subha Sharma, Principal Secretary, W&CD Department, explored socio-cultural barriers and systemic support for balanced development. Dr. Md. Noor, State Head, UNFPA, presented Odisha’s gender rank, highlighting opportunities and challenges.
The final session on “Community Engagement and Advocacy,” led by Ms. Adyasha Satpathy, CEO of Dharitri and Odisha Post, emphasized gender-sensitive media reporting and the role of civil society in grassroots advocacy. The closing panel, chaired by Prof. A.B. Ota, IAS (Retd.), sparked discussions on bottom-up approaches to gender equality.
The workshop, anchored by Shri T Ao, IAS, Special Secretary, P&C Department, saw participation from government officials, UNDP representatives, academics, students, SHG members, entrepreneurs, and civil society. Ms. Abha Mishra, Head-UNDP Odisha, summarized key takeaways, emphasizing stronger gender inclusivity in Odisha’s development sector.
