Bhubaneswar, Aug 13: Odisha is witnessing a remarkable surge in women-led entrepreneurship, with over 9 lakh Odia women registering their own MSME (Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises) since 2021, officials said on Wednesday.

Backed by central financial incentives and targeted awareness campaigns, these women are not just business owners—they are job creators and economic change-makers.

According to data presented in the Lok Sabha by the Union MSME Minister, the number of women entrepreneurs in Odisha has grown exponentially. In 2020–21, only 7,823 women registered MSMEs, but by 2023–24, the number had soared to 3.99 lakh, followed by 2.43 lakh in 2024–25, and 36,184 by July 2025. The government aims to further accelerate this trend through focused outreach and support.

Odisha MSME Minister Gokulananda Malik highlighted that the state is actively promoting women’s participation in the sector, with schemes designed to offer subsidies, training, and credit access.

The central government has also launched the “Yashaswini” awareness campaign to educate women about MSME opportunities and streamline registration for women-owned enterprises.

Success stories like Debashree Mahanti, proprietor of Annapurna Paper Works in Baripada, and Priyanka Ghosh of Sampurna Enterprises in Kuliana block, exemplify this transformation.

Debashree, a highly educated woman, left her job to start a notebook manufacturing unit with minimal investment under the Prime Minister’s self-employment scheme. Today, she employs 18 people and has an annual turnover exceeding Rs1 crore.

Similarly, Priyanka began by producing paper plates and cups through her MSME unit. With bank support and government subsidies, she now employs 7 women and earns an annual turnover of Rs60 lakh, with her products reaching markets as far as Kolkata.

Both entrepreneurs credit their success to the government’s vision and support, proving that with the right resources, women can lead sustainable businesses and uplift communities.

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