Odisha Government’s ‘Subhadra to Mudra’ Initiative to Empower Women Entrepreneurs

Odisha Government’s ‘Subhadra to Mudra’ Initiative to Empower Women Entrepreneurs

Odisha CM Mohan Charan Majhi announced the expansion of the Subhadra scheme, shifting its focus from mere financial assistance to equipping women with entrepreneurial skills. Speaking at the Utkarsh Odisha Conclave, Majhi and Deputy CM Pravati Parida urged beneficiaries to invest their ₹50,000 assistance wisely in setting up businesses rather than spending it casually.

To achieve this, the government will emphasize skill development, business training, and market linkages for Subhadra beneficiaries. Two MoUs were signed—one with IIM Sambalpur for research on improving the scheme’s impact and another with World Skill Centre for skilling beneficiaries.

Parida introduced three new initiatives under the scheme:

• Suna Subhadra – Focus on financial literacy
• Kuha Subhadra – Emphasis on entrepreneurship and leadership skills
• Subhadra Setu – A support system for addressing queries and grievances

Additionally, the scheme will integrate young women from the Advika program, ensuring they are prepared to enroll in Subhadra upon turning 21 years old and guide others about the scheme.

Providing statistics, Principal Secretary Shubha Sarma highlighted that 25% of Subhadra beneficiaries are between 21-30 years old, while 32% are aged 31-40. Of the 80 lakh women who received the first installment, 22,148 opted for digital currency payments.

This initiative marks a major shift toward women’s economic empowerment, ensuring they gain financial independence and become successful entrepreneurs.