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Social Equality is the Foundation of Viksit Odisha: Deputy Chief Minister Smt. Pravati Parida
Bhubaneswar, 23/12/2025 ( Odisha Samachar / Rajat Mohapatra)- Emphasizing that social equality forms the core of Viksit Odisha, Deputy Chief Minister Smt. Pravati Parida today reiterated the State Government’s commitment to providing a healthy, progressive, and superstition-free society for future generations.
She was addressing a state-level workshop on the Prevention of Witch-Hunting and Prohibition of Child Marriage, organized by the Women and Child Development Department at the State Convention Hall, Bhubaneswar. The deputy Chief minister attended the programme as the Chief Guest.
Highlighting the pivotal role of women in Odisha’s rural economy, Smt. Parida stressed that education and sustained awareness are the most powerful tools to eradicate regressive practices such as witch-hunting and child marriage. She called upon all officials to proactively visit villages and households to create awareness against superstition and social evils. She urged officers to act not merely out of administrative duty but with a strong sense of humanity and social responsibility.
The programme witnessed the presence of Smt. Shubha Sharma, Principal Secretary, Women and Child Development Department, ; Director,Monisha Banerjee Additional Secretaries; and senior departmental officials. Participants included Block Development Officers from all 314 blocks, District Education Officers from 30 districts, Project Officers (PO-cum-PO), Child Development Project Officers (CDPOs), and District Coordinators (DHEW).
Addressing the gathering, Principal Secretary Smt. Shubha Sharma underlined the importance of combining legal enforcement with mass awareness to effectively combat social evils. She highlighted various departmental initiatives and emphasized collective action as the key to eliminating such inhuman practices from society.
In the technical sessions, eminent lawyer and social activist Ms. Manasi Padhi, in the first session, and social activist Shri Benudhar Senapati, in the second session, elaborated on the Odisha Prevention of Witch-Hunting Act, 2013 and the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006, respectively, providing detailed legal insights and implementation strategies.
Director Smt. Monisha Banerjee delivered the welcome address, while Additional Secretary Smt. Sumitra Pattnaik proposed the vote of thanks, marking the conclusion of the workshop.
