Odisha to distribute smartphones to 600,000 women self-help groups

Mission Shakti, started as a project in 2001, has Rs 50 billion savings and Rs 20 billion annual bank exposure

Odisha government on Wednesday announced a plan to distribute 600,000 smartphones to Mission Shakti (self-help) groups in the state. There are about 600,000 self-help groups comprising seven million female members.

“Our women have come a long way and the next ceiling to be broken is the digital one. My government is aware that digital empowerment will further accelerate the socio-political and economic empowerment of women. My dream is to see that every woman has access to the knowledge economy”, said Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik at