Bhubaneswar: Whether it is making more than 70 lakh women empowered and independent, or contributing to the health safety of common man by producing more than 6.5 million face masks during the pandemic, Odisha’s Mission Shakti has always been in the forefront of nation building.
Once again, the largest SHG network under the aegis of Mission Shakti Odisha is going to create history in the coming days by producing the largest number of National Flags to celebrate the 75th Independence Day of India.
As part of the Har Ghar Tiranga campaign, Mission Shakti members are now busy making 30 lakh National Flags that will be hoisted atop houses and institutions from August 13th to 15th this year. More than 300 Self Help Groups and Producer Groups spread across 22 districts of the state are all set to complete the 30 lakh flag orders by August 10th.
While the production of National Flags by the SHG members will contribute to their incomes, more than that, it is associated with their love for their country and the enthusiasm to celebrate the glorious 75th Independence Day of the nation. More than four thousand women members of Mission Shakti are working tirelessly to make it happen and create history by stitching 30 lakh flags which will be part of the Har Ghar Tiranga Campaign. While more than seventy percent of the final product is complete, the remaining orders will be completed in a very short time. Every day more than three lakh flags are being produced and packed.
The women members have come forward on their own to manufacture the flags. The already established large number of tailor and stitching units of the SHGs under Mission Shakti came handy in the endeavor. The thrust for theses SHG units has been on procurement of raw materials for the flags from the local markets. They are also concerned with the parameters. They are strictly following the Flag Code of India in the manufacturing process and there is no disrespect to the National Flag. Like many other occasions, this time also the Mission Shakti Women members want to be part of everybody’s happiness. They are proud to be a part of this Celebration.
In Ganjam, more than 700 SHGs are preparing the final consignments of Flags to be dispatched. Spread across 14 Blocks, they will manufacture about 2.5 lakh flags. According to Madhumita, a member of the Jay Bajarangi Tailoring Producer Group, their group received orders to manufacture 5000 flags of 20*30 Inches and they have nearly completed the assignment.
Speaking on this unique initiative, Chief Development Officer-cum-EO, Zilla Parishad, Ganjam, Keerthi Vasan V says, “This is a time to celebrate, and everyone wants to contribute to this national celebration. The WSHG members proactively showed interest in manufacturing the flags. The already functional sewing machines and tailoring units with the SHGs made it possible for them to complete the work on time. The orders for the flags have been mainly received from institutional clients. They are very happy that flags produced by them will flutter across the state.”