Odisha Government and ISB Launch ‘Green Shakti’ to Empower Women-Led Forest Enterprises

The Department of Mission Shakti, Government of Odisha, in collaboration with the Bharti Institute of Public Policy, Indian School of Business (ISB), has launched the ‘Green Shakti Producer Company Business Enterprise Leadership Cohort.’

This initiative aims to strengthen 30 women-led, forest-based enterprises across six districts—Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Rayagada, Nabarangpur, Koraput, and Malkangiri. By establishing 30 forest producer companies, it will create a network of 300 women leaders, with the broader goal of engaging more than 1,000 primary producers per company and positively impacting over 30,000 women by August 2025.

Leadership Training and Capacity Building

A three-day planning and orientation workshop at Mission Shakti Bhawan in Bhubaneswar brought together more than 170 board members to strategize on fostering a responsible forest economy. Participants underwent financial literacy, leadership, business management, and sustainable resource utilization training.

The sessions emphasized equitable benefit distribution, shareholder integration, and democratic decision-making within forest producer companies. Institutional finance and industry compliance training were also key focus areas, ensuring that board members are well-equipped to manage and scale their enterprises efficiently.

Highlighting the transformative potential of this initiative, Shalini Pandit, IAS, Commissioner-Cum-Secretary, Department of Mission Shakti, stated, "The planning sessions within these workshops are tailored to empower women leaders with strategic business acumen, laying a foundation for collective development and societal progress in these regions."

Expanding Market Opportunities 

A major highlight of the workshop was the discussion on aggregation strategies for large-scale collective sales of seasonal forest products, with a particular focus on Sal seeds. Given the high domestic and international demand for Sal seeds due to their fat and oil content, the initiative aims to maximize returns for primary collectors and enhance long-term sustainability.

Dr. Monica Priyadarshini, IAS, Director-cum-CEO of the Department of Mission Shakti, underscored the transformative impact of the program. She stated, “This initiative brings together highly motivated women entrepreneurs, many of whom have traveled long distances to participate. With the right knowledge and resources, these women could potentially become Crorepati Didis, leading successful forest enterprises.”

Professor Ashwini Chhatre, Executive Director of the Bharti Institute of Public Policy at ISB, highlighted the vast economic potential of India’s forests. “Over the next few months, we anticipate significant growth in Odisha’s forest economy, driving prosperity for people, profit, and the planet,” he remarked.

Government Support 

To support the initiative, each producer company will receive initial working capital from the Odisha Government. This financial backing is expected to facilitate seamless operations and accelerate the scaling of these enterprises.