Empowerment of women has reached the grass root level in Odisha, claimed Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik while addressing International Women’s Day functions organised separately both by the government and the ruling BJD party here claimed here.

Speaking at a state level function organised to observe the International Women Day, Mr Patnaik said women in charge of various Panchayati Raj institutions in the state are working with commitment for the development of the villages.

Their efficiency and leadership in the development process is quite visible. It was late Biju Patnaik who initiated the era of women empowerment in Odisha•by providing reservation in PRI institutions, enhancing wages etc.

He had even asked women to take to policing and protect themselves against social evils. The Chief Minister said Odisha has earned a name as a leading state in women empowerment in the country.

Political, social and economic empowerment of women in the state has been quite satisfactory, he added. At least 60 per cent of the women in Odisha have an immovable property like house and land. Similarly, more than 55 per cent women have bank accounts.

All these indicated the socio-economic development of women, he said. Later at a function organized by the state Women and Child Development Department, the Chief Minister awarded three best districts—Ganjam, Angul and Jharsuguda with cash awards for their performance in the implementation of the ICDS programme.

The CM also honoured 10 women for their excellent service in the implementation of the ICDS programme.

The CM also shared a 2.19-second video on the success of women and different women-centric schemes launched by the state government for the development of the women in Odisha.

Addressing women BJD activists and leaders at the party office, the Chief Minister said women should not be viewed as vote banks.

He highlighted the schemes of his government that had helped women in a big way. Mr Patnaik reeled out figures of expenditure in each of the women-centric welfare schemes.

At another function organised by KIIT here noted actress Sharmila Tagore said  “We must emphasize challenging the status quo and creating precedence for women which have been remained bleak continually even after seventy years after independence”.

The reality is that the feudal mindset still has not been changed. That’s why Equitable Society still remains a distance dream, she added. Suki Dusanj, Country Head, Fashion Revolution, Giuliano Lenz, TV Presenter and Model; Cecilia Oldne, Consultant, Wine and Spirit and Shiraz Gidwani, Chief Executive, Ektara Motion Pictures joined as guests at the function in KISS.