The Odisha Department of Mission Shakti has partnered with the Xavier Institute of Management, Bhubaneswar (XIMB) and the National Institute for Social Work and Social Sciences (NISWASS) to strengthen the managerial and entrepreneurial capabilities of women-led Producer Companies across the state.
Key Highlights:
- 320 directors from 64 women-led Producer Companies will receive specialised training
- The programme covers governance, finance, business planning and market access
- Training will run across 13 batches from October 26 to December 22, 2026
The specialised capacity-building programme was inaugurated by Odisha Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida at Mission Shakti Bhawan in Bhubaneswar. The initiative is designed for Board of Directors (BoD) members of women-led Producer Companies and aims to equip them with the skills required to manage, expand and sustain their enterprises.
The programme will be conducted in 13 batches between October 26 and December 22, 2026, covering 320 BoD members representing 64 Women Producer Companies. The participating organisations include 63 companies established under the Agriculture Production Cluster (APC) initiative and one Millet Producer Company.
The first batch brought together 25 directors from five women-led Producer Companies in Angul district. The training curriculum focuses on key areas of enterprise management, including Farmer Producer Organisation (FPO) governance, leadership development, financial management, compliance, business planning and market linkages.
The initiative comes as Odisha seeks to strengthen the transition of women from Self-Help Groups (SHGs) into organised business enterprises. Addressing the launch, Parida highlighted how women associated with SHGs have moved beyond individual production by coming together to establish Producer Groups and Producer Companies. She noted that collective entrepreneurship, supported by government interventions, has enabled women to take greater ownership of their businesses.
The state government is supporting this transition through budgetary assistance, interest-free loans, skill development and entrepreneurship-focused training. The latest programme adds a stronger emphasis on corporate-style management and leadership, enabling women directors to make informed decisions and develop sustainable business strategies.
Through the training, the government and its institutional partners aim to improve governance standards, strengthen financial management and help women-led enterprises identify new markets and business opportunities. Greater market access is also expected to support income generation and reinforce rural entrepreneurship ecosystems.
The programme reflects a broader shift in Odisha's women-empowerment efforts, moving beyond financial inclusion and group-based livelihood activities towards building scalable and professionally managed enterprises. By developing leadership and business capabilities among women directors, the initiative seeks to create stronger rural value chains and increase women's participation in the formal economy.
The programme is also aligned with Odisha's ambition to support women in progressing from “Lakhpati Didis” to “Mahalakhpati Didis”, by enabling them to build larger, more sustainable and income-generating enterprises.
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