Bhubaneswar , Odisha : The Planning and Convergence Department, Government of Odisha, in collaboration with UNDP, organised a Consultative Workshop on SDG-5 (Gender Equality): Reimagining Development through a Gender Lens – Inclusive, Safe, Sustainable at Hotel LYFE, Bhubaneswar. The workshop focused on addressing critical gender equality issues through mobility and accessibility, women’s economic empowerment, gender-inclusive development interventions, and multi-stakeholder collaboration.
Shri Manish Agarwal, IAS, Additional Secretary, P&C Department, delivered the welcome address, highlighting the objectives, outline, and expected outcomes of the workshop. Ms. Isabelle Tschan, Deputy Resident Representative, UNDP, stressed the importance of integrating a gender perspective into policy and programme design to ensure sustainable and inclusive development outcomes.
In her keynote address, Ms. Anu Garg, IAS, DC-cum-ACS, Odisha, highlighted the key initiatives taken by State Government departments in promoting women’s economic empowerment, gender-inclusive services, and community participation. She emphasized that while Odisha has achieved significant milestones, strengthening systems further is crucial to fully realise the objectives of SDG-5.
The workshop included four detailed thematic sessions. The first session on “Mobility and Accessibility for All”, chaired by Dr. Sudhanshu Sarangi, IPS, DG Fire Services & CG, focused on creating a safe and inclusive environment for women. Experts from UNDP, BDA, CRUT, BSCL, and UNFPA presented case studies, shared best practices, and recommended actionable measures to improve safety and accessibility.
The second session on “Economic Empowerment of Women”, chaired by Mr. Amit Kumar, UNDP, featured success stories, including Ms. Bindhya Basini, a woman entrepreneur from Rayagada. Panelists discussed workforce participation, entrepreneurship, skill development, financial inclusion, and overcoming challenges in women’s economic engagement.
The third session on “Gender-Inclusive Development”, chaired by Ms. Subha Sharma, Principal Secretary, W&CD Department, explored socio-cultural and economic barriers. Speakers analysed Odisha’s gender rank, highlighted systemic gaps, and proposed strategies for inclusive development across all sectors.
The fourth session on Community Engagement and Advocacy emphasized the role of media and grassroots organisations. Ms. Adyasha Satpathy, CEO of Dharitri and Odisha Post, highlighted gender-sensitive reporting and amplifying women’s voices to support economic and social empowerment.
Prof. A.B. Ota, IAS (Retd.), chaired the closing panel discussion, which included social activists, industry leaders, and other experts. Shri T Ao, IAS, Special Secretary, P&C Department, anchored the workshop, while Ms. Abha Mishra, UNDP Odisha, summarized key takeaways and recommended actionable steps for strengthening gender-inclusive development in the State.
Government officials, UNDP representatives, academia, SHG members, entrepreneurs, civil society, and students actively participated in discussions, exchanging ideas and best practices. The workshop concluded with a strong commitment to advancing inclusive, safe, and sustainable gender development across Odisha, ensuring women’s empowerment at all levels.
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