100 rural women entrepreneurs feted at Odisha50 valedictory function

Bhubaneswar: As many as 100 best-trained rural women entrepreneurs were felicitated at the valedictory function of Odisha50 here today. The function was hosted by Sambad Group in association with FICCI and Mission Shakti.

Professor Ganeshi Lal, Governor of Odisha graced the occasion as the chief guest.

Monica Nayyar Patnaik, Chairperson of FICCI Odisha Council and Managing Director of Sambad Group, welcomed the assemblage and talked in brief about the journey of Odisha50 which was inaugurated in August 2020 over virtual meeting among the board members.

Odisha50 is an initiative started jointly by FICCI and Department of Mission Shakti to ensure development of women led enterprises in Odisha. It was also pillared by the Khimji Foundation.

Following Monica Nayyar Patnaik’s address, the Odisha50 ‘Coffee Table Book’ was unveiled by Khimji Foundation’s Mitesh Khimji and Sumeet Khimji.

 

The meeting furthered with Khandapada MLA and editor of Sambad Soumya Ranjan Patnaik who attended the valedictory function as the chief speaker.

“Sambad Group hosts several programmes every year. But, I feel, today’s function stands out as the most unusual of all the events we’ve been a part of in the last 38 years,” said Soumya Ranjan Patnaik.

 

Expressing gratitude to Governor Ganeshi Lal for his presence and also Khimji Foundation for their support to the Odisha50 initiative, Soumya Ranjan Patnaik talked about women empowerment that’s gradually cementing its mark in the society.

Governor Ganeshi Lal lauded the Odish50 initiative and also asked the audience to introspect why the society needs to work on women empowerment in the first place.

 

Following the Governor’s address, as many as 100 rural women entrepreneurs were felicitated at the event. While all the 100 women entrepreneurs were awarded cash incentives, top 33 rural women entrepreneurs, as selected by an independent jury, were laurelled ‘Sharda Seema Samman’, a certificate of appreciation in the name of Monica Nayyar Patnaik’s mother who was an educationist and social worker.

 

Odisha50 valedictory function ended with a brief photo session of the winning members of several self-help groups (SHGs).