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Women Empowerment Initiative

To create an enabling ecosystem to unlock earning pathways for women by 2029

Why is it important?

Unlock Odisha's untapped workforce, as female labour force participation (49%) remains far below men (82%)

Boost women-led entrepreneurship, given that only <5% of MSMEs in Odisha are owned by women, compared to 22% nationally

Reduce women's care burden and enable work, as improving women-child nutrition (currently 22% stunting, 12% underweight, 3% wasting) frees time and capacity for economic participation

Did you Know?

Key Challenges for Women's Economic Participation

Understanding the barriers preventing women from fully participating in Odisha's economy

Program Highlights

Evidence-Based Policy Design

A sample beneficiary study in collaboration with IIM Sambalpur conducted, revealing ~80% productive use of funds and strong livelihood aspirations, creating an evidence base for policy and behavioural nudges

SUPOSHIT Odisha Mission

Statewide SUPOSHIT Odisha Mission launched by Deputy Chief Minister to accelerate achievement of a malnutrition (SAM, MAM and Underweight) free Odisha by 2029

SUBHADRA Bhaunis

A mentor cadre of SUBHADRA "Bhaunis" created by the state, at the district level, to serve as entrepreneurship ambassadors

Comprehensive Outreach

SUBHADRA and its umbrella interventions evangelised across channels, enhancing awareness on DBT's impact and Odisha's evolving welfare landscape for women

Impact

1Cr+

women directly benefited through the largest women-centric scheme in Odisha

₹50,000

per beneficiary over five years in annual installments

74,000+

Anganwadi Workers powering one of India's largest women-facing delivery systems

~80%

productive use of funds by beneficiaries revealed through Samikhya study

First-of-its-kind insights have been obtained on women's financial behaviour, productive investment, and aspirations via Samikhya, which will now inform policy design and cross-departmental decision-making

Impact Study

IIM Sambalpur Collaboration