Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Chapter of the Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP), developed in collaboration with NITI Aayog, was unveiled during ‘Udyami Odisha MSME Programme’ held to mark International MSME Day.
The WEP-Odisha aims to function as a single-window ecosystem, integrating efforts from Mission Shakti, the MSME Department, Startup Odisha, banks, and industry bodies. It will offer women entrepreneurs streamlined access to financial assistance, market linkages, mentorship, and skill development programmes.
Describing the platform as more than a scheme but a broader movement, Chief Minister Majhi emphasised transforming women from job-seekers into job-creators and from consumers into producers. “Our vision is to build an Odisha where women are not just participants but leaders of development,” he said while releasing the platform’s one-year action plan.
The Chief Minister highlighted the impact of Subhadra Yojana, under which more than one crore women have been empowered. Citing data from IIM Sambalpur, SBI, and AI-based surveys, he noted that the share of women-led enterprises in the state has risen sharply from 25% to 53%. Beneficiaries have also seen an average increase of ₹6,887 in their bank deposits.
MSME Infrastructure Push
Alongside the WEP launch, Majhi inaugurated and laid foundations for several MSME projects aimed at strengthening manufacturing and value addition:
>> A ₹24.18-crore rice milling cluster in Balasore to promote rice bran oil production.
>> A ₹17.7-crore Rasagola (rasgulla) cluster at Pahala, expected to increase daily production capacity from 7,000 kg to 11,000 kg.
>> Two multi-product MSME parks, each costing ₹10 crore, at Barapali in Ganjam district and Kesinga in Kalahandi district.
Majhi announced plans to establish one multi-product MSME park in every district, with upcoming clusters focused on engineering, printing and packaging, and cashew processing.
He added that over 4.32 lakh MSMEs in Odisha have benefited from combined central and state initiatives. Under the Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP), subsidies worth ₹146 crore have been provided to 4,900 micro units, with women constituting 42.5% of the beneficiaries. The state has also facilitated over ₹23,000 crore in collateral-free loans under the Credit Guarantee Scheme, while bearing interest costs under the CM-SRIM scheme.
Praise from NITI Aayog and State Leaders
NITI Aayog Vice-Chairman Ashok Kumar Lahiri praised Odisha’s progress, calling it a rising star under the Purvodaya vision. He highlighted the state’s robust GSDP growth and its top ranking in the Fiscal Health Index 2026.
Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida described the WEP as marking a new chapter in building a women-led economy.
MSME Minister Gokulananda Mallik stated that women entrepreneurs would play a pivotal role in realising Odisha’s 2036 vision and the ambitious target of a $500 billion economy.
