Mission Shakti Department on Thursday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Tourism and Hospitality Skill Council (THSC) to enhance skill development and entrepreneurship opportunities for women Self-Help Group (SHG) members across Odisha.
The MoU was signed at Mission Shakti Bhawan in the presence of Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida. The agreement was formally exchanged between Monika Priyadarshini, Director, Mission Shakti, and Rajan Bahadur, Chief Executive Officer, THSC.
Government’s Vision for Women-Led Growth
Speaking on the occasion, Pravati Parida said the initiative marks a key step in Odisha’s women-led economic empowerment, helping create more “Lakhpati Didis” by enabling women to enter tourism and hospitality through structured skilling and entrepreneurship support. She added that professional skills and sustainable livelihoods will drive financial independence and inclusive growth.
Girish S. N., Mission Shakti Commissioner-cum-Secretary, outlined the collaboration’s objectives and its long-term impact on women-led enterprises in Odisha’s tourism and hospitality sector.
Jyoti Mayal’s Vision for Women Empowerment
Under the leadership of Jyoti Mayal, Tourism and Hospitality Skill Council has focused on empowering women through skill development and entrepreneurship, encouraging them to become job creators in high-growth sectors like tourism and hospitality.
The Odisha initiative reflects her vision of building an inclusive, future-ready workforce with women at the centre of economic progress.
Jyoti Mayal, Chairperson, THSC said, “Empowering women through skill development and entrepreneurship is not just about livelihoods; it is about enabling confidence, leadership, and long-term economic independence. Through this collaboration with Mission Shakti, we aim to equip women SHG members with industry-relevant skills and entrepreneurial capabilities, enabling them to become active contributors to India’s growing tourism and hospitality ecosystem. At THSC, we remain committed to creating meaningful opportunities for women and supporting their journey towards sustainable success.”
Programme Details
Under the MoU, women SHG members will be trained to run enterprises in tent services, catering, food supply and event management, along with inputs on business sustainability, skill enhancement, FSSAI certification, DPR preparation, equipment procurement and expansion strategies.
The initiative will train 12,000 women from 1,000 SHGs over three years (4,000 annually) with a ₹9.3 crore outlay. Officials noted it will boost employability and help women-led enterprises participate in Odisha’s growing tourism and hospitality sector, strengthening the state’s socio-economic fabric.
