Bhubaneswar : Odisha Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida on Tuesday said that the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961 and the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 play a crucial role in both safeguarding and empowering women.
She was addressing a state-level training workshop on women’s protection laws, organised by the Women and Child Development (WCD) Department at Lok Seva Bhawan here.
More than 180 participants, including representatives from Shakti Sadans, One Stop Centres, police officials, protection officers and NGOs from all districts, took part in the event.
In her keynote address, Parida said that true support during a crisis matters more than blood relations. She urged participants to personally work with vulnerable women.
“I appeal to each of you to bring new energy and hope into the lives of at least five distressed women in your district,” she told the gathering.
Parida added that women are making significant contributions in areas such as cottage industries and stressed that women’s safety must remain at the centre of a women-led economy.
The Deputy CM also interacted with grassroots representatives to hear their concerns on handling cases of women’s safety. She called for stronger coordination, timely action and community involvement to ensure justice and protection for women.
WCD Department Principal Secretary Shubha Sharma underlined the importance of the Dowry Prohibition and Domestic Violence Acts and explained departmental schemes linked to women’s welfare. Director Monisha Banerjee and Additional Secretary Sumitra Pattnayak also took part in the programme.
Eminent lawyer Manasi Padhi conducted six sessions on the legal framework of the two Acts. She explained the role of protection officers in filing Domestic Incident Reports (DIRs), court coordination, reporting procedures, police responsibilities, and the role of service providers.
Padhi also outlined the key provisions and penalties under the Dowry Prohibition Act, along with case management, investigation practices and challenges in overlapping cases under both laws.
The day-long workshop encouraged active participation from all districts, with delegates sharing experiences and challenges from the field. The programme concluded with a vote of thanks by Additional Secretary Sumitra Pattnayak, who praised the commitment of officials and organisations working for women’s empowerment.
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