Bhawanipatna: The Government Autonomous College here will be upgraded into a university and science stream will be launched at Government Women’s College.
This was announced by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik while attending a mega women’s convention organised under the Mission Shakti programme at Srikrushnanagar here in Kalahandi district Saturday.
The Chief Minister inaugurated 22 projects costing Rs 906.84 crore and laid foundation stones for 18 projects involving an outlay of Rs 476.86 crore.
Addressing the women’s meet, the CM said the Government Autonomous College will soon be accorded university status. He said science stream will soon be launched at the Government Women’s College in the town.
The Chief Minister later gave a cheque of Rs 15,000 each as seed money assistance to 11,122 women self-help groups and Rs 25 lakh as financial assistance to 14 block-level federations.
The Chief Minister also distributed Rs 3,000 each as financial aid to 9,836 women SHGs for digital empowerment.
A financial assistance of Rs 23 crore was given to SHGs and Federations in the 14 blocks of the district.
State Mission Shakti Commissioner-cum-Director Sujata Kartikeyan welcomed participants at the convention. She described how women have become self-reliant through the SHG programme.
The convention was marked by differences as no BJD leader or ministers from outside the district were allowed space on the dais.
Collector Gavali Parag Harsh, chairperson of Mahila Nigam Srimayee Mishra and all presidents and secretaries of all women’s federations in the 14 blocks participated in the programme.
Urban Development Minister Niranjan Pujari, WCD Minister Prafulla Samal, MLAs Pranab Prakash Das, Anam Nayak, Dibya Shankar Mishra, Balabhadra Majhi, Dhaneswar Majhi, Kalahandi MP Arka Keshari Deo, district BJD President and MLA Pushpendra Singhdeo, Housing Board Chairperson Bhupinder Singh, BJD District Vice-President Bhabani Shankar Mishra and several other party leaders attended the meeting.
PNN
