Bhubaneswar 06/3/2024 ( pratyushanews ) : NABARD RO, Bhubaneswar celebrated the International Women’s Day today. The event was organised with the theme “Count her In: through Economic Empowerment” in Bhubaneswar and was graced by Chief Guest Smt. Dr. Sanghmitra Mishra, Professor Utkal University Bhubaneswar and Aruna M. GM, Indian Bank, Odisha Region attended the event as Guest of Honour. During the event, 150 women micro- entrepreneurs from 15 districts viz. Balangir, Balasore, Cuttack, Dhenkanal, Ganjam, Jajpur, Jagarsinghpur, Kendrapada, Khurda, Mayurbhanj, Nayagarh, Puri, Sambalpur, Subarnapur and Sundergarh who have been ‘Change Agents’ and contributed for the overall development of the Society were present. Eleven lady bank officers who have done outstanding work by extending credit in the field of micro enterprise and livelihood promotion were also present. Dr. Sudhanshu K.K. Mishra, Chief General Manager, NABARD Odisha RO while highlighting the relevance of International Women’s Day, shared in detail various support schemes of NABARD for empowerment of rural women through MEDPs, LEDPS, SHGS, JLGS, FPOS, OFPOs, wadi, watershed, financial and digital literacy camps, sanitary literacy campaign, save water campaign etc. He stressed the need to triple the dosage of credit to women entrepreneurs/ farmers etc. so that they can take up various remunerative livelihood activities for doubling their family income. Smt Aruna M, General Manager, Indian Bank, Odisha Region, Bhubaneswar, in her speech highlighted intervention of Govt. of Odisha in promotion and empowerment of SHGs. She also spoke about Gender inequality / disparity and shared the latest statistics. She also lauded role of NABARD in taking initiatives for SHGs promotion and livelihood generation. Dr. Sanghmitra Mishra, Retd. Professor, Utkal University, Bhubaneswar stressed upon women health, nutrition, maternal mortality, removing disparity in wages of women engaged in unorganised sector. She also emphasized in overall development of SHG women through taking proper care of health, sanitation, and access to facilities. On this occasion, NABARD, Odisha Regional Office recognised the efforts of 09 Women/change agents who have done outstanding work in micro enterprise and livelihood promotion through grass level institution like SHGS/FPO & OFPO. Further 02 Mobile Marts sanctioned to SHG by NABARD for marketing of farm and off farm produce by Women SHGs members of Jajpur districts were also flagged off.
