NABARD, Odisha RO, Bhubaneswar celebrated International Women’s Day on 08 March 2022. The event was organised at Bhubaneswar and in 15 districts of Odisha.  The programme at Bhubaneswar was graced by Smt. AnuGarg, IAS, Additional Chief Secretary, Department of Water Resources, Government of Odisha as Chief Guest and Smt Poly Pattnaik, Principal, Mothers Public School as Guest of Honour. During the event, twelve women micro-entrepreneurs from 10 districts viz. Balangir, Bhadrak, Deogarh, Gajapati, Jajpur, Khorda, Koraput, Mayurbhanj, Sambalpur and Subarnapurwho transformed themselves into ‘Change Agents’ and contributed to the overall development of the Society were invited and felicitated. Besides, ten women CEOs of Civil Society Organisationassociated with NABARD, Odisha were felicitated on the occasion.   The women working in NGOs have played a key role in advocacy, training and capacity building of women entrepreneurs in remote areas of the State.  About 170 SHG members from various districts have also participated in the programme and showcased their products developed through various Microentrepreneurship development and Livelihood entrepreneurship development projects supported by NABARD.

Shri C. Udayabhaskar, Chief General Manager, NABARD Odisha RO while highlighting the relevance of the Day, shared in detail various support schemes of NABARD for the development of rural women like Self Help Groups (SHGs), Joint Liability Groups (JLGs), Micro-Enterprise Development Programme, Livelihood Enterprise Development Programme, Farm and Off-Farm Producer Organisations, Tribal Development Programmes, Watershed Development Programmes, Sanitary Literacy campaign, Save Water campaign, EShaktietc. He stressed the need to develop micro-entrepreneurs, particularly in the tribal districts and to double the dosage of credit to women SHGs/entrepreneurs, etc. so that they can take up various remunerative livelihood activities and contribute to doubling their family income. He said that NABARD during the next financial year would develop 20000 micro-entrepreneurs. 

Smt. Poly Pattnaik, Principal, Mothers’ Public School, Bhubaneswar during her address spoke about Gender inequality/disparity and the importance of education for the girl child.  She also highlighted that the Society at large should always be concerned and sensitive towards the needs, requirements of women and one should come forward to support the overall development of women.

Smt. AnuGarg, IAS, Additional Chief Secretary, Department of Water Resources, Govt. of Odisha, Chief Guest for the occasion congratulated the change agents for their contributions to the society and encouraged the participants to be role models in the society. She shared her experience as the Head of Women and Child Welfare in the State and praised the role of SHGs in various developmental aspects of the Government. She has indicated that various steps are being taken by the Govt of Odisha for the empowerment of women. She said Govt of Odisha has been making untiring efforts in building the required infrastructure, capacity building and linkages. An encouraging exponent of women across the section, she appreciated the role of NABARD in supplementing the efforts of the State Government in infrastructure development in rural areas and empowering the SHGs through its various promotional activities.  Further, she stressed the need for up-scaling these small achievements and developing these into large clusters, develop market linkage. She had appreciated the hard work and commitment of these micro Entrepreneurs.

The Change Agents, the micro-entrepreneurs then shared their experiences and were praiseworthy about the support they had received from NABARD.

Also, NABARD celebrated International Women’s Day in fifteen aspirational and credit-starved districts of the state and felicitated women change agents.