Subhadra & beyond: From women devpt to women-led devpt

As India marches toward realising Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of becoming a ‘Viksit Bharat’ by 2047, the focus of the government has shifted from women development to women-led development.

- PROF MAHADEO PRASAD JAISWAL

Recognising the unique challenges faced by women, particularly in rural areas, the Odisha Government has embarked on a series of transformative initiatives to empower them, harnessing their potential for national development. Addressing the challenges faced by women in rural areas requires capacity building on micro entrepreneurship along with multi-stakeholder collaboration. Partnerships with local industries and communities, and private organisations have been pivotal in reaching the last mile to bring rural and urban women to the forefront of nation building.

Odisha’s 2.2 crore women, who represent nearly half the population, are central to driving the state’s economic growth. Odisha is undergoing a crucial shift towards a women-led, women-centric and gender-responsive development model, where women are not merely recipients of welfare schemes but also active participants in economic growth. By embedding gender-sensitive policies, strengthening family-focused social protection systems, and fostering an inclusive economic environment, Odisha is laying a strong foundation for a more equitable and inclusive future.

The latest data from the National Family Health Survey (NFHS V) reflects significant progress in women empowerment. In Odisha, household decision-making power among married women has improved, with 90.2 per cent now actively participating and demonstrating greater autonomy in familial and social spheres. Financial inclusion has also seen remarkable improvement, with 86.5 per cent of women managing their own bank accounts, facilitated by initiatives such as Jan Dhan Yojana and other financial literacy programmes. Digital inclusion is growing, with mobile phone ownership among women rising from 39.2 per cent to 50.1 per cent, signalling a step toward greater connectivity, access to information, and economic opportunities.