Union Secretary MoHUA praises engagement of Mission Shakti SHGs in Urban Development

Bhubaneswar(Kalinga Voice) : Shri Durga Shanker Mishra, Secretary, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), Government of India has appreciated the effective participation of Mission Shakti SHGs and transgender groups in urban development and livelihood generation programmes in Odisha. On a visit to the State for the launch event of the Association of Water Supply and Sanitation Organisation (AWSSAR), Shri Mishra interacted with several SHG members in Bhubaneswar and Puri. 

Secretary visited Pipli on Sunday and interacted with members of the Kiran Area Level Federation (ALF) of SHGs at the Diamond Applique Centre.The members explained in detail about the process of creating more than 40 applique products under the DAY NULM programmebeing implemented by the State Urban Development Agency(SUDA). The Secretary was happy to note the way the women SHGs have scaled up their operations for increased income and better livelihood.

He appreciated the efforts of SUDA in transforming the lives of underprivileged women and ensuring their social and economic empowerment through upscaling and partnering with them. He stressed upon the need for onboarding the SHGs to pan India e-Commerce platforms likeAmazon to emerge as a leading example of Urban Poverty Alleviation under DAY NULM in the country. He washappy to note that Kiran ALF of SHGs is already  on e-commerce platform Flipkart.

Earlier, Shri Mishra  interacted with the transgender group members engaged in collection of parking fees in Bhubaneswar and Jal Sathis involved in 24X7 drinking water supply in Puri. He said that it was heartening that Odisha has set a benchmark in empowering women and communities in delivery of urban utility services. Sri Sarada Prasad Panda, Project Director, SUDA, apprised the Secretary on the various innovative interventions and partnerships with Mission Shakti SHGs. 

Another senior official from the delegation, Smt. SaradaMuralidharan, Additional Chief Secretary in charge of both Urban and Rural development , Kerala, visited the Septage Treatment Plant (SeTP) and other urban infrastructure facilities  being managed by Mission Shakti SHG at Jatni. Appreciating the  effective partnership built with the local Women  and Transgenders SHGs , she said Odisha community partnership model is amazing and inspiring.