Odisha CM, JSW Foundation discuss economic empowerment of women through skill development

The state has already brought into its fold 70 lakh women and engaged them in various economic activities.

By Sukanta Kumar Mohanty

BHUBANESWAR, APRIL 21: Continuing his effort at economic empowerment of women, Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik who has already enrolled 70 lakh female folks into his government’s Mission Shakti movement, on Friday held discussion with JSW Foundation chairperson Sangita Jindal on how the fairer sex can be imparted skills to be more productive, thereby multiplying their earnings.

Ms Jindal was here in the city to address the Odisha Skill Conclave.

Sources said the CM and the JSW Foundation chief discussed widely on imparting technical education to rural women so as to make them self-reliant.

Later, while addressing the Skill India Conclave, Ms Jindal informed that 30,000 young women and girls are benefitting from India’s largest and first of its kind Skill Impact Bond that JSW runs in collaboration with National and International partner organisations.

“More than 4000 women from the rural areas are gaining economic independence and contributing to nation building by being a part of JSW Shakti BPO – a sustainable social enterprise initiative in Karnataka, she informed,” she added.

Stating that JSW was firm on building a workforce of women to enter traditionally male dominated areas such as hard-core mining, port handling and construction roles, Ms Jindal said such initiative will lead to narrowing the gender gap.

Earlier on Thursday, while inaugurating the Skill India Conclave, chief minister Mr Patnaik had informed that the state government has kept a budgetary provision of Rs 100 crore in the Financial Year 2023-24 for training one lakh youths in future technologies like cloud computing, artificial technology, data sciences, and other futuristic knowledge.

The 70 lakh women enrolled in various economic activities. These women are discharging multiple activities, including management of Anganwadi centres to power tariff collection and handling public distribution stores.