First Ever Mission Shakti Mela Kicks Off

Bhubaneswar: The first ever Mission Shakti Mela was inaugurated by Odisha Women and Child Development Minister Tukuni Sahu here this evening. 

The Mission Shakti Mela would showcase the prowess of the Women Self Help Groups of the State and bring to one platform more than 500 women members of 262 women SHGs and producer groups (PGs) from 30 districts.

The exhibition will promote products prepared by Mission Shakti SHGs.

A total 200 stalls will be put up and they would display and sell various handloom, handicraft, non-timber forest produce (NTFP), food items, spices and nonfarm products.

The exhibition would also help urban consumers gain knowledge and access diversified and unique SHG products.

The event is an attempt to economically empower the women working in SHGs.

Speaking on the occasion, Sujatha Kartikeyan, Commissioner-cum-Director, Mission Shakti, said that a permanent Mission Shakti outlet will be opened at Gandamunda in the capital city, so that people can purchase the Mission Shakti products throughout the year.

In the first phase, as many as 70 such shops will be opened, she said.

The exhibition will be held at the IDCO Exhibition Ground here from December 5 to 16. It would remain open from 11 am to 9 pm each day.