Bhubaneswar: The state govt will introduce a new dress code and provide smartphones to Mission Shakti members on Utkal Divas, to be celebrated on April 1, announced deputy CM Pravati Parida during the Mission Shakti interest refund programme held here on Monday.She said around 46,000 community resource persons under Mission Shakti will receive smartphones and official identity cards, along with a new dress code to be rolled out from Utkal Divas. The move fulfils a long-standing demand of the resource persons.Speaking about the new dress code, Parida said it has been designed by Odia artisans and reflects Odia Asmita. “The new uniform will give Mission Shakti members a smart and distinct look,” she said. The deputy CM added that the smartphones will be equipped with the LokOS app, which is expected to further empower ‘Lakhpati Didis’. Developed for the ministry of rural development, the app will record self-help group (SHG) member profiles and their activities, with the aim of centralising the SHG system and doing away with traditional paper-based bookkeeping.During the event, a total of 2,80,586 SHGs were reimbursed over Rs 197.66 crore under the interest refund programme in the presence of the deputy chief minister. “This will further strengthen the financial condition of mothers and sisters who are moving towards entrepreneurship. Strengthening and developing the rural economy under women’s leadership will help realise the vision of a developed Odisha and a developed India,” Parida said.Under the scheme, the state govt is waiving the entire interest on bank loans of up to Rs 10 lakh by setting the annual interest rate at 0 per cent and directly crediting the interest amount to the bank accounts of SHG members. There are 5,92,161 SHGs in the state with 63,43,699 members. Of this, 20.51 lakh members are ‘Lakhpati Didis’.
