Economic empowerment for over 4.2 lakh women in rural Odisha over three years

• Launched in 2023 by Reliance Foundation and Gates Foundation, Swayamshree aims to empower 10 lakh women across Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Odisha, achieve a minimum annual household income of ₹1 lakh.
• In Odisha, Swayamshree is a joint initiative of Reliance Foundation and Gates Foundation, with the Department of Mission Shakti, and implementing partners Gram Vikas and Harsha Trust.
• Swayamshree Conclave II in Bhubaneswar showcases best practices from Odisha’s farm, off-farm, and non-farm livelihood models; public private community partnership.
• A compendium of Swayamshree Programme Insights in Odisha launched at the Conclave.

Bhubaneswar, June 03, 2026: The Swayamshree programme, a collaboration of Reliance Foundation and Gates Foundation with the Department of Mission Shakti, convened the second edition of the Swayamshree Conclave here today. The conclave brought together policymakers, development practitioners, industry leaders, non-governmental organisations, and representatives of women’s collectives to share key learnings from Odisha, forge Public–Private–Community Partnerships (PPCPs), and chart a roadmap for scaling women-led livelihood models across the state.

“Congratulations to the Swayamshree programme for choosing to work in a dynamic field. In a resource-constrained scenario, collective efforts are needed to achieve the desired results. We are keen to take the learning from the Swayamshree programme and replicate it on a larger scale,” said Shri Jyotishankar Mohapatra, OAS, Additional Secretary, Department of Mission Shakti, Government of Odisha.

Emphasizing the impact of collective strength, Ms N Deepthi Reddy, Chief-Women Empowerment, Reliance Foundation, said, “In Odisha, we have seen what becomes possible when women are organised into collectives and given the tools, technology, and markets they need. Across seven districts — from tribal uplands of Kandhamal to the handloom clusters of Bargarh — more than 4.2 lakh women have moved from subsistence farming to enterprise-led livelihoods. Women who once guarded crops through the night against wild life are now adopting solar fencing technologies that further enhanced production and economic empowerment, and are leading collectively as Producer Groups and selling their harvests to institutional buyers. The compendium we have launched is not just a record of what has been achieved; it is a blueprint for what is possible when government, philanthropy, and community institutions work as one.”

Aligning with this vision of scalable growth, Ms Saachi Bhalla, Deputy Director, Gender Equality, Gates Foundation, said, “The Prime Minister’s vision of Lakhpati Didis has created important national momentum for women’s economic empowerment. The Swayamshree programme builds on this vision by working with State Rural Livelihood Missions and grassroots partners to create sustainable income pathways. The learnings from Odisha—across farm, off-farm, non-farm and enterprise models—demonstrate how collaboration between government, philanthropy, private sector, and civil society can deliver transformative, scalable change. The Gates Foundation remains committed to advancing these learnings and enabling greater economic opportunity for women.”

A compendium titled ‘Best Practices from Odisha for Strengthening Women’s Livelihoods’ was launched at the conclave by dignitaries from government, philanthropy, and the development sector.

The compendium documents high-impact field models with strong replication potential, drawn from the Swayamshree programme’s implementation across Odisha through its implementing partners — Gram Vikas and Harsha Trust, and the best practices compendium document by ILRT.

The compendium captures learnings from women’s enterprises across multiple value chains in farm (such as paddy, vegetables, and dairy), off-farm (including food processing and handloom), and non-farm (retail enterprises and service-sector activities) segments. It is designed to serve as a practical toolkit for practitioners, policymakers, and institutions seeking to replicate and scale effective livelihood interventions.

A highlight of the conclave was a panel discussion on Partnership and Innovation Models, which brought together private sector leaders to explore how targeted partnerships can accelerate the scaling of women-led enterprises in Odisha.

The discussion, featuring Voices from the Community included women leaders sharing stories of enterprise transformation and market access.

The event also featured an exhibition of SHG and FPO products, offering participants an opportunity to interact with women entrepreneurs and see first-hand the transformative impact of the Swayamshree programme’s farm, off-farm, and non-farm value chains.

As Swayamshree deepens its presence in Odisha, the conclave marks a significant milestone in bringing together the ecosystem of government, private sector, philanthropy, and civil society required to scale these models for lasting, community-wide impact.

About Swayamshree

Launched in 2023 by Reliance Foundation and Gates Foundation, the Swayamshree programme aims to empower 10 lakh women across Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, and Odisha, helping them achieve a minimum annual household income of ₹1 lakh — fulfilling the vision of Lakhpati Didis.

The programme works in close collaboration with each State Rural Livelihoods Mission and is implemented by on-ground NGO partners.

In Odisha, the programme is implemented by Gram Vikas and Harsha Trust, in partnership with the Department of Mission Shakti.

It supports women organised into self-help groups (SHGs), producer groups (PGs) and farmer producer organisations (FPOs) in farm, off-farm, and non-farm income-generating activities, fostering collective strength, market linkages, and enterprise growth.

About Mission Shakti

Mission Shakti is the Government of Odisha’s flagship initiative for women’s economic and social empowerment.

It supports a vast network of self-help groups (SHGs) and federations, providing women with access to credit, skills, and market linkages.

Mission Shakti has mobilised over 70 lakh women across Odisha into SHGs, establishing one of India’s most extensive grassroots women’s empowerment networks.