BY PRASANTA KU. DASH​​​​​​​

Year 2025 though came eventful for Odisha and the nation in many ways, it becomes a remarkable timeline for the welfare state for its robust feat of Women Empowerment & augmentation of its grass root farmers.

Elevating itself to much higher than Pirme Minister Narendra Modi’s resolve, ‘Beti Bachao & Beti Padhao’ the Odisha government uplifted the state’s women community and the farmers, drawing out an inclusive growth and development of the farming-major province. With the ‘Beti Bachao Beti Padhao’ mission, the national scheme implemented in Odisha is frantically addressing gender imbalance and promote girl child education beginning from unreachable villages.

The state Cabinet in its progressive sessions, committed a slew of farmer augmentation schemes and programs while the state endeavored to float dedicated missions in a bid to enlight, educate and empower tiny-tot champs, lasses, girl students, women entrepreneours, common homemakers and the women mass as a whole.

Similarly, in a bid to improve the socio-economic levels of the marginal farmers, sharecroppers and mediocre agrarians, the Odisha government chalked out a number of welfare schems, extending support to the breadmakers in every sphere of their lives.

May it be the segregation of seats for the girl child in the schools, free education to them, free boarding and residential education to the SC&ST girls, free textbooks, provision of scholarships to meritorious girls, post-matric financial assistances to girl students, free bicycle for mobility.All the benefits have now emerged as booms for the girls that supplement the Women Empowerment Mission of the state.

Mamata Yojna, a bid to ensure essential nutrients for the Would-be and lactating mothers, has been instrumental in almost doing away with maternal and infants’ death in the neo-natal & post-neonatal stages.

With the intervention of the Early Childhood and Care(EC&C) run by the Women & Child Welfare Department, government of Odisha, has almost fought malnuitrition, anemic ailments among the children especially among the girls.The whole-grain food compounds supplied to the CDPO segments provide additional nutrients that helps fight stunted growth and malicious infections among the children.

Further, India's Progress in reduction of Maternal and Child mortality indicators outpaces Global Averages.

As per the current United Nation Maternal Mortality Estimation Inter-agency Group (UN-MMEIG) Report 2000-2023, published on 07 April 2025, India’s MMR has reduced by 23 points from 2020 to 2023. By this achievement, MMR of India has now declined by 86% compared to global reduction of 48% over the past 33 years from 1990 to 2023.

Significant achievement has been highlighted in reduction of Child Mortality in India in the United Nations Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME) Report 2024, published on 24 March, 2025.

India is among the top performer countries with reduction in Child Mortality Rates. As per the Report, India achieved a 78% decline in the Under-Five Mortality Rate (U5MR) surpassing the global reduction of 61%; 70% decline in the Neonatal Mortality Rate (NMR) compared to 54% globally, and 71% decline in the Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) compared to 58% globally, over the past 33 years from 1990 to 2023.

In comparison with the MMR national average, Odisha has achieved a significant place in depleting maternal & infant mortalities. These sustained improvements are a result of strategic interventions and unwavering commitment of the Government in line with the Ministry of Health’s healthy schemes and innovative missions.

The Odisha government is implementing the Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA) & Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY), financial assistance for pregnant women for their first living child, with heart & soul, to achieve a net zero child & mother mortality in the times to come.

Similarly the stricter enforcement of the The Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PC&PNDT) Act cracks down in preventing sex-selective abortions especially the termination of female foetus.

The state’s Health & Family Welfare Department with the Centre’s directives, has resolved to achieve a net zero abortion of female foetous across the health facilities and women clinics.

Odisha's women empowerment landscape features key initiatives like THE Mission Shakti, empowering women via Self-Help Groups (SHGs) for economic independence, and the new Subhadra Yojana, offering direct financial aid worth 50,000 over 5 years via a debit card, boosting digital transactions for the NFSA/SFSS beneficiaries.

Other programs of the Odisha government focus on entrepreneurship through schemes like Subhadra Yojna, Mahila Samriddhi Yojana (microfinance for minorities) and skill-building (e.g., self-defense via 'Veerangana' in Deogarh) to enhance livelihoods, education, and social well-being for women and girls across the state.

In the Subhadra Yojana, direct financial support of Rs 10,000 is provided to women per year for 5 consecutive years, to begin small scale business. Apart from it, wider opportunites are given to the women through empowered SHG movement that provides credit, market linkage, and economic activities, controlled from a dedicated directorate.

Under the Mahila Samriddhi Yojana, Microfinance loans are given at lower interest rates to minority women and underprivileged groups to foster entrepreneurship.

Regarding skill Development & Protection, a Veerangana Scheme has been piloted in Deogarh) that offers self-defense (martial arts) training to boost confidence in adolescent girls, for their safety & security. Similarly,’ Nirbhay Kadhi & Mo Gelha Jhia’ has been launched in the Ganjam district and Kalpana Avijan in Dhenkanal district, to create mass awareness on indispensability of girls for the society.

The Swarna Kalika schem that has been initiated from the Keonjhar as a pilot project raises awareness against child marriage and promotes legal rights of girls and women.

The Kishori Shakti Yojana (lit. 'Adolescent Girl Empowerment Scheme') is a scheme initiated by Ministry of Women and Child Development in India, implemented by the Government of Odisha for juvenile girls aged 11 to 18 under the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS).It aims to empower adolescent girls, to motivate them to be self-reliant, assist them in studies and vocation, promote health care, and give them exposure to society for gaining knowledge so that they can grow into responsible citizens, beating the social dogmas.

The dominance of Odisha Women in Agriculture has created a better workplace in the education sector. In Odisha, the female cultivators accounted for 20.11%. Now it has reached at almost 53.90%. Odisha has rolled out fabupous schems to increase participation of women in green fields and allied sectors. These schemes collectively aim to improve socio-economic conditions, promote self-reliance, and ensure access to education, healthcare, and safety for women and girls in Odisha.

The Lakhpati Didi” initiative of the present BJP government is one of the bold step in women empowerment. With it, More than one crore women in Odisha are dreamt to make potentially rich, receiving benefits under the Subhadra Yojana. The state is thus paving its way to transform women mass to millionares under the Lakhpati Didi initiative.

The Ama Subahaka Yojana is one of the self-employment scheme for women. While, the previous BJD government had initiated a scooty culture & smart phone shavvy culture in freebies, for the working women and women in farmers respectively, the present establishment rolled out Ama Subahaka Scheme for self-employment of women.

The innovative scheme assures several benefits for the industrious women who go for lucrative transport and cab services, with self-reliance. The Odisha government under the Ama Subahaka Yojana, aims to provide working capital up to Rs 10 lakh, which is to be repaid over a five-year period. Women who opt for electric vehicles will be eligible for an extra incentive of Rs 2 lakh.

The "Madhu Babu Pension Yojana" under the Social Security and Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities Department, Government of Odisha is a social welfare scheme designed to provide financial assistance to elderly citizens, widows, destitute and poorest of the poors. As the recent reports highlights, over 121,000 destitute/divorcee women are receiving the financial assistance that strengthen their social security.

Odisha is seeing a rise in women entrepreneurs, especially in food processing (millets, traditional snacks), handlooms, digital services, and handicrafts. Supported by Odisha government’s progressive schemes viz Mission Shakti and initiatives boosting Self-Help Groups (SHGs), many common women have grown uncommon becoming state-grown startups. Successful Entrepreneurs like Nazia Ali, Shyama Jha, and Shantilata Das, among others are now leading the way in innovative, profitable ventures, overcoming traditional barriers.

Odisha women’s participation in politics & leaderships has scripted a new feature in national Millennium Development Goals (MDG).Odisha government’s model for women’s empowerment is much phenomenal for its sincere effort to boost women’s participation in every sphere of development and governance.

The Biju Janata Dal (BJD)-led Odisha government had earlier reserved 50% of seats in Panchayati Raj institutions and one third of the LS seats for women. Out of it, a few members won and came ahead as women leadership. However, in the Mohan Majhi-led BJP regime, one of the Deputy CMs, is a woman. Dy. CM Pravati Parida is heading the Women & Child Development Department of the state, and working in a mission mode for the allround development of mothers and children.

Similarly, Speaker of the Odisha Assembly is also a woman. Surama Padhee, is leading the Odisha legislation meticulously proving her able leadership in the floor. Bhubaneswar MP Aparajita Sarangi is one of the prominent Parliamentarians, proudly representing the state, heading different Constitutional Panels. Meanwhile, Anu Garg, a dynamic woman IAS Officer, has been recently chosen as Odisha Chief Secretary, in a first that becomes an iconic decision of the Odisha government to put the woman icon in place.

Crackdown on violence & cruelty towards women and Children, has registered a new history in 2025. The Odisha government and police have implemented a multi-faceted approach to crack down on violence and cruelty towards women and children. This includes establishing specialized police units, launching helplines, setting up special courts, and initiating community-level awareness and prevention schemes.

Women and Child Cells & Desks have been established in each police district, and ‘Mahila & Shishu Desks’ in 608 police stations, to provide an integrated and sensitive police response to crimes against women and children. Crime Against Women & Children (CAW & CW) Wing been established under the Crime Branch to monitor, supervise, and investigate important and sensitive cases of crimes against women and children to ensure successful prosecution.

Similarly, 24 special courts under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act are functioning to expedite trials in sexual offence cases against children. Investigative Units for Crimes Against Women (IUCAW) units operate in 29 districts, focusing on sensitive cases.

As many as 36 Anti-Human Trafficking Units (AHTUs) are working on prevention, rescue, and rehabilitation of trafficking victims in collaboration with other departments and NGOs.

The police enforce stringent laws, including the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005, the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961, and the POCSO Act, 2012, among others.

Emergency Response Support System (ERSS) on Dialing 112 provides a timely, prompt, and sensitive response to women and children in distress.

The toll-free number 181 provides 24x7 emergency and non-emergency support, linking victims with police, hospitals, and legal services.The helpline number 1098 is a dedicated service for children in need of care and protection.

One Stop Centres (Sakhi) provide integrated support, including medical aid, legal assistance, and psychological counseling, to women affected by violence under one roof.

Among the ‘Community and Preventive Initiatives’ the Odisha government implements Community Policing viz "Ama Police Samiti" to encourage women to report problems without fear.

The Odisha Police, in partnership with UNICEF, has organized campaigns like "PAREE PAIEN KATHATIYE" and "Operation Muskan/Smile" to raise awareness against child sexual abuse and rescue missing children.

The Keonjhar police have launched 'Project Rakhi', a QR-based WhatsApp chatbot, to allow women to register complaints from their mobile phones. With all the interventions & outcomes of a good-governance model, women community in the state excelled in many ways wheather socially, economically, psychologically or politically. On the other hand, girls are shining & blossoming with smiles on their lips, for the innovative inciatives the state, devises for their social security & integrity.

Similarly, the farmers’ empowerment in the state is also now a milestone for the nation. Beginning from securing developed seeds to quick sale out of the harvests in the nationwide market that is for a legitimate price, the Odisha government has made a comprehensive framework for its farmers.

While, the ATMA has been providing more productive seeds, a number of state-level agencies are helping farmers to export their harvest to the national & international market.

The Odisha government empowers farmers through holistic programs like the flagship Krushak Assistance for Livelihood and Income Augmentation( KALIA) Scheme. The BALARAM scheme addresses the concern of sharecroppers and landless farmer, to earn his bread through farming.The Mukhyamantri Krushi Udyog Yojana (MKUY) provides capitals for investment in farming.

Similarly, Agriculture Production Clusters (APC) secures a steady return for women farmers. Promoting farm mechanization DBT subsidies for equipment have been announced by the state government. Expert advice on farming via ‘Aam Krushi’, online forum helps farmers to get realtime assistance on farming.

The Shree Anna Yojana in Odisha is an impetus to the Odisha Millet Mission, a flagship program launched in 2017 to revive the cultivation and consumption of nutritious millets (Shree Anna) in tribal areas and across the state, promoting climate-resilient farming, improving farmer livelihoods, and addressing malnutrition by integrating millets into school meals, anganwadis, and the public distribution system, making Odisha a leader in millet promotion.Thus, the Shree Anna Abhiyan revitalizes traditional diets and farming, leveraging millets' nutritional and environmental benefits for sustainable development in Odisha.

The irrigation infra in Odisha has been scaled up potentially in 2025 to do away with drought and dependency on the uneven monsoon raim.Though, some of the pre-existing irrigation facilities were improvised, a numer of all new projects were built for the farmers.

Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on 11 December, 2025 launched the Chief Minister Adibandh Scheme 3.0, with a budget of Rs 2,738 crore, aimed at enhancing the state's irrigation infrastructure. The initiative aims 3,000 new check dams and the restoration of 2,000 old ones over the next five years, covering 48,000 hectares of farmland.

At the OUAT Campus Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi laid the foundation stone for 201 new check dams, with an investment of Rs 160 crore, and dedicated 101 completed check dams worth Rs 70.27 crore.

Majhi also inaugurated irrigation projects worth Rs 425 crore and laid the foundation for additional projects totalling Rs 2,063 crore. This is the effort of the Odisha government to see the farmers in developed state of economy.

The Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojna (PMFBY) over the past nine years, has transformed agriculture in Odisha by providing farmers with a comprehensive safety net against crop losses due to natural calamities. With affordable premiums and extensive risk coverage—including yield losses, post-harvest losses, and localised calamities—the scheme has become a crucial support system for marginal farmers, ensuring timely compensation and stabilizing their income.

The increased voluntary participation, particularly among non-loanee farmers, highlights the growing trust and acceptance of the scheme. The PMFBY moves yet easier as the state government contributed the lions share of the premiums for the farmers. Now, it continues to empower farmers and strengthen Odisha’ agricultural resilience.

In a major development the the Centre has recently included crop loss due to wild animals and flood, to be covered under the PMFBY. It has been one of the greatest boons for the Odisha farmers where wild elephants and boars are on the prowl and flood is a common disaster here.

While, drougt and inundation have been sorrows over years for the Odisha-based farmers, the Minimum Support Prices (MSP) announced by the Centre and the states’ contribution from this apart, make the harvesters strong and confident.

The Centre's fixed the national MSP for paddy at ₹2,369 per quintal. The Odisha government added an additional input subsidy of ₹800 per quintal. As a result, the farmers are fetching Rs 3150 for a quintal of paddy now. Similarly, the MSP for other staple crops including rabi, Kharif with other cash crops. It balances the rising production costs for the harvests.

Realtime Weathercast & Climate change related information for farmers, are essential components for climate resilient farming. Odisha government is working on this principle and devicing smart technology for accurate weather assessments. Weathercast & climate change information helps farmers by providing crucial data for timely decisions on planting, irrigation, and harvesting, allowing adaptation to unpredictable patterns like extreme heat, droughts, or floods, through strategies such as choosing climate-resilient crops, optimizing water use with techniques like direct seeding, and utilizing AI-powered forecasts for better risk management, ultimately improving higher yields and securing livelihoods.

The state agriculture department in collaboration with the IMD has set up regional climate stations and rain-gauge devices preferably in the district headquarters to provide reports on essential climatic conditions to the farmers. Apart from it, the state seeks the intervention of the Special Relief Commisioner (SRC) & Odisha State Disaster Management Authorities (OSDMA) at need, to act and address the farmer’s concerns.

The year 2025 will be a green-era for the Odisha-based agrarians as no devastating flood nor any sunstantial drough hit paddy cropping in the season. Rather, the monsoon became absolutely normal, conducive and blissful for almost all crops, resulting a good harvest in the fiscal.