The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) Odisha Regional Office organised an event here to mark the International Women’s Day. The event was held simultaneously both in Bhubaneswar and in 15 other districts.

The celebration was attended by Water Resources Department Additional Chief Secretary Anu Garg and Mothers Public School Principal Poly Pattnaik.

On the occasion, 12 women micro-entrepreneurs from 10 districts, who transformed themselves into ‘Change Agents’ and contributed for the overall development of the society were felicitated. Besides CEOs of Civil Society Organisations associated with NABARD were also felicitated.

As many as 170 SHG members from various districts participated in the programme and showcased their products developed through various Micro entrepreneurship development and Livelihood entrepreneurship development projects supported by NABARD.

NABARD Odisha RO CGM C Udayabhaskar shared in details various support schemes of NABARD for the development of rural women like Self-Help Groups (SHGs), Joint Liability Groups (JLGs), Micro Enterprise Development Programme, Livelihood Enterprise Development Programme, Farm and Off Farm Producer Organisations, Tribal Development Programmes, Watershed Development Programmes, Sanitary Literacy campaign, Save Water campaign, E-Shakti, etc.

Garg praised the role of SHGs in various developmental aspects of the Government and appreciated the role of NABARD in supplementing the efforts of State Government in infrastructure development in rural areas and empowering the SHGs through its various promotional activities.