Bhubaneswar: Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik Friday announced a Rs 453.50 crore Covid-19 package for Mission Shakti.
While Rs 169 crore has been earmarked for 338 Block Mission Shakti Bhawan constructions, Rs84.54 crore as Revolving Fund and Rs 200 crore as interest subsidy amount on loans incurred by Mission Shakti.
The chief minister lauded the role played by the 77 lakh Mission Shakti members during the Covid time.
Speaking on the occasion, the Mission Shakti secretary Sujata Kartikeyan said that Odisha is only State in the country which has a seperate department for Mission Shakti. This shows the chief minister’s special concern for upliftment of women in the State, she added.
The secretary said the State has procured Rs 2800 crore worth of products from Mission Shakti. According to her, I 2021-22 fiscal, the department has set a target to arrange Rs6000 crore bank loans for Mission Shakti units in the State.
Mission Shakti & Women & Child Development minister Tukuni Sahoo, government chief whip Pramila Mallick, MLA Latika Pradhan, and State Mission Shakti advisor Lopamudra Bauxipatra spoke on the occasion. Mission Shakti Federation Chairpersons and secretaries of Morada Bishnupriya Das, Cuttack Kantapada Bishnupriya Patra, Nakati Deula Gitanjali Pradhan, Koraput Nandapur Hemalata Pradhan, and Dhenkanal Nirmala Sahu thanked the CM for the finanacial assistance to the Mission Shakti at this critical juncture.
The HDFC Bank disbursed a total of Rs 47 lakh loans to three Mission Shakti units of Berhampur, Baripada and Dhenkanal for prickle factories. These units have supplied 120 tonnes of prickle to 177 Aahar Centres in the State.
Chief minister’s secretary (5T) VK Pandian conducted the programme which was also attended by chief secretary Suresh Chandra Mohapatra and development commissioner PK Jena.
