Bhubaneswar: In a one-day special session of the Odisha Legislative Assembly titled Women’s Contribution in Indian Democracy, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi emphasized that true empowerment for women must extend beyond financial assistance to include significant roles in social, economic, and political decision-making.
Speaking on April 30, 2026, the Chief Minister moved a motion to discuss the historic Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, guaranteeing that 33 percent reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies will be fully implemented starting with the 2029 General Elections. He criticized opposition parties for what he described as double standards regarding the bill, specifically dismissing concerns over seat delimitation and reassuring the House that the process would be conducted fairly.
Chief Minister Shri Majhi highlighted the evolving roles of Indian women, noting that they now make up 43 percent of STEM graduates and over 53 percent of the nation’s school teachers. He also shared national statistics indicating that women account for 69 percent of Mudra Yojana loans and 84 percent of Stand-Up India beneficiaries, while 72 percent of houses under the PMAY scheme are registered in women’s names.
Addressing state-specific initiatives, the Chief Minister detailed several programs aimed at making Odisha’s women self-reliant. These include the Subhadra Yojana, which aims to transition over one crore women into Lakhpati Didis, and the Mukhyamantri Kanya Vivah Yojana. He also noted the integration of the Mamata Yojana with central health schemes, which provided nearly 500 crore rupees to over four lakh women in the 2025-26 fiscal year, and the establishment of Nari Adalats to provide localized justice.
The session was marked by significant political friction as opposition members from the Congress and Biju Janata Dal raised concerns over local law-and-order issues. Despite the disruptions, the Chief Minister maintained that the push for women’s representation is a historic struggle for rights, respect, and dignity that will redefine the state’s democratic framework.