Bhubaneswar, Aug 9: In a proactive step toward enhancing women's empowerment in academic institutions, the Higher Education Department has instructed all universities and government or private colleges to establish Shaktishree Empowerment Cells by August 25.

The directive, issued through official communication to vice chancellors and principals, calls for the immediate selection of one female student representative, designated as a Shaktishree Sathi, from each class by August 14. The selected students must be in the final year of their undergraduate or postgraduate programs.

To complement the initiative, a six-day self-defence training program has also been mandated for the chosen representatives. The final list of Shaktishree Sathis must be submitted by August 20, ensuring that the empowerment cells are operational by the end of the month.