Parliament Question: Special measures to promote women SHGs in Odisha

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3852 TO BE ANSWERED ON 27/03/2026 SPECIAL MEASURES TO PROMOTE WOMEN SHGS IN ODISHA 3852 Smt. Sulata Deo: Will the Minister of Rural Development be pleased to state: (a) whether special measures are being taken to promote women Self Help Groups (SHGs) in agriculture and allied activities in Odisha; and (b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT (DR. CHANDRA SEKHAR PEMMASANI) (a) & (b): Under Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana - National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM), several measures have been taken to promote women Self Help Groups (SHGs) in agriculture and allied activities. Women Self Help Groups (SHGs) members are empowered as Mahila Kisans to adopt agro-ecological practices, improved livestock management practices, and scientific cultivation and collection of Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) and medicinal plants. They are also supported in establishing agri-nutri gardens to ensure availability of nutrition at the household level. Further, SHG federations such as Gram Panchayat Level Federations (GPLFs) have been strengthened to create a network of trained livelihood Community Resource Persons (CRPs), including Krishi Sakhi, Pashu Sakhi, Van Sakhi, and Matshya Sakhi, who provide handholding and extension support to Mahila Kisan households. To enable better market access and remunerative prices, Mahila Kisans are supported for organic certification through the Participatory Guarantee Systems (PGS)-India system. They are also mobilised to form women-owned producer groups and producer companies to undertake input services, aggregation, value addition, and marketing of produce. Odisha has been included under the central sector scheme “Formation and Promotion of 10K FPOs (Farmer Producer Organisations) of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare for promoting women- owned FPOs. In addition, special projects have been approved for Odisha to strengthen livelihoods through sustainable agriculture practices, scientific cultivation and collection of NTFPs such as tasar and medicinal plants, and promotion of large women-owned producer companies. As on Feb 2026, 4.92 crore Mahila Kisans (including 24 lakh in Odisha) have been covered under agro-ecological practices, while 2.72 crore Mahila Kisans (including 8.3 lakh in Odisha) have adopted improved livestock practices. A network of more than 3.50 lakh livelihood CRPs (including 8,190 in Odisha) has been established to provide extension support. Additionally, 1,340 producer enterprises and 2.08 lakh producer groups (including 4,235 in Odisha) have been promoted to facilitate better market access and input services. ***** Page 1 of 1