Free smartphones to all SHGs women: CM

| | BHUBANESWAR
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Free smartphones to all SHGs women: CM

Thursday, 15 November 2018 | PNS | BHUBANESWAR

In a bid to make the women of Odisha digitally-empowered, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday announced to provide smartphones to all six lakh women Self-Help Groups (SHGs) free of cost under the Mission Shakti programme.

He made the announcement during a session on women entrepreneurship at the Make in Odisha Conclave here.

Patnaik said, “Women empowerment is something that is very close to my heart. No country or State has ever developed without empowering their women. My dream is to see that every woman has access to the knowledge economy. As a first step, my Government will digitally empower all the 6 lakh Mission Shakti groups with a smartphone.”

Sources said the move would benefit around 70 lakh women associated with various SHGs in the State.

Patnaik said, “In 2001, we started Mission Shakti as a project. Today it has transformed into a movement. Almost every second household has a member in Mission Shakti.”

He also urged the bankers to meet the credit requirements of the Mission Shakti groups in a professional manner.

On political empowerment of women, Patnaik said Biju Patnaik was a pioneer who made a 33 per cent reservation for women in local bodies while his government increased it to 50 per cent. It isheartening to note that the reservation is now much more than 50 per cent.

Patnaik said, “Whenever my government has made an initiative — whether Mamata or Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana or the Land Rights, the State always runs the extra mile for women. As a government, we do so many things — institutions, buildings, bridges. Let me confess that whenever we have done anything for women, it has had the maximum impact for the State and given me the greatest personal satisfaction.”

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