In a sweeping move to redefine campus culture, the Odisha government has launched Shakthisree Empowerment Centres across 746 colleges and universities. This initiative, announced by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, aims to foster holistic development, gender sensitivity, and safety for students—particularly young women—through a blend of mentorship, digital tools, and grassroots leadership. The programme is a direct response to rising concerns over campus safety and seeks to transform educational institutions into spaces of empowerment and dignity.
Core structure and leadership roles
1. Each college and university will establish a Shakthisree Empowerment Cell, led by a female student designated as the Shakthisree Saathi and mentored by a female faculty member known as the Shakthisree Coordinator
2. These cells will be responsible for conducting workshops on legal literacy, mental health, self-defence, and digital safety
3. The Higher Education Department has mandated the appointment of Coordinators by August 4 to ensure swift rollout
4. Five accomplished women—called Shakti Apas—will be nominated in each district to serve as mentors, visiting campuses quarterly to guide and support students
Digital tools and complaint redressal
1. A dedicated Shakthisree mobile app is being developed to offer students access to mental health counselling, complaint filing, and emergency support
2. The app will include contact details of Internal Complaint Committee members and allow students to submit grievances via text, audio, or video
3. A built-in SOS button will provide immediate help in crisis situations
4. The app will also link to Tele-MANAS, India’s national mental health helpline, ensuring round-the-clock support
Training, awareness, and accountability
1. Under the SAFE (Shakthisree Actions for Female Empowerment) campaign, institutions will host six-day training sessions on self-defence, gender equality, and legal rights
2. Faculty and staff will undergo mandatory annual online training aligned with the POSH Act and UGC guidelines
3. A special code of conduct will be introduced for teaching and non-teaching staff to promote respectful and inclusive campus behavior
4. Each institution must submit an Annual Campus Safety Report by December 31, detailing progress and challenges
Mentorship and community engagement
1. Shakti Apas will be selected from diverse backgrounds including law, public health, education, and social work, with preference given to retired female government employees and experts in women’s safety
2. These mentors will coordinate with local NGOs and district administrations to organize events and competitions promoting gender equity
3. The Shakti Swaroopini Workshop will be held annually to review progress, share feedback, and refine strategies
4. Mentors are expected to visit institutions at least once every three months to maintain continuity and engagement
Catalyst for change
1. The Shakthisree initiative was launched in the wake of a tragic incident involving a student at Fakir Mohan Autonomous College, which sparked widespread concern over campus safety
2. The programme is positioned not as a reactive measure but as a long-term commitment to building safer, more inclusive learning environments
3. Chief Minister Majhi emphasized that colleges must become havens of learning, not places of fear
4. The initiative is being hailed as a blueprint for other states seeking to address gender-based challenges in higher education
Looking ahead
Shakthisree is more than a policy—it’s a movement. By embedding empowerment into the daily lives of students, Odisha is setting a precedent for participatory governance, emotional resilience, and institutional accountability. As the programme unfolds, its success will depend on consistent implementation, community involvement, and the courage to confront uncomfortable truths. But with its multi-layered approach and clear roadmap, Shakthisree may well become a national model for campus transformation.
Sources: UNI India, Hindustan Times, NewsX, Odisha Bytes, The Telegraph India
