Bhubaneswar: After livelihood and house repair assistance for the poor and needy people, chief minister Naveen Patnaik on Tuesday launched several initiatives for the benefits of members of the Mission Shakti, targeting the women.
The initiatives included online marketing for goods produced by Mission Shakti, interest subsidy, uniform allowance for community support staff, fees and travel allowance of EC members of the Federation and Rs 1 crore for each district for construction of Mission Shakti Bhawan.
Speaking on the occasion, the chief minister said the Mission Shakti programme, started 20 years back, has become a movement of 70 lakh women and the new initiatives will further strengthen it at the grassroots level.
Stating that the Cabinet has decided to provide work worth Rs 5,000 crore to Mission Shakti, Naveen said Rs 200 crore has been paid towards interest subsidy.
The chief minister also laid the foundation stone of Mission Shakti Bazar in Bhubaneswar and launched the Mission Shakti e-marketing portal on the occasion. These will enable the people across the world to buy goods from Mission Shakti women, he said adding that similar Mission Shakti Bazar will be set up across the state soon.
Naveen announced that Mission Shakti Bhawans will be constructed in all districts for which Rs 1 crore will be provided to each district. The government has sanctioned Rs 200 crore to pay fees and travel allowance to EC members of the Mission Shakti Federation, he added.
Mission Shakti Minister and commissioner-cum-secretary, Mission Shakti, Sujata Karthikeyan spoke on the occasion while departmental advisor Lopamudra Baxipatra interacted with the block presidents of Bargarh, Nuapada, Ganjam and Mayurbhanj.
Chief secretary Suresh Chandra Mahapatra and other senior officers were present. Secretary to CM (5T) VK Pandian moderated the programme.
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