Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi launched a comprehensive initiative called ‘Shaktishri’ on Saturday (July 19, 2025) to ensure safety of girl students and women personnel in the premises of all higher educational institutions of the state. The Chief Minister made this announcement in view of the death of a 20 -year -old student after the incident of alleged sexual harassment at Fakir Mohan (Autonomous) College in Balasore.
Describing ‘Shaktishri’ as a transformational empowerment and self -defense initiative, Majhi said that to ensure the safety of the students, it will be implemented in 16 state universities of the state and 730 government and aided colleges.
These are the eight attention points of Shaktisri
He said, “This initiative will ensure the safety of the girl students and the campus of our higher educational institutions will be more secure and inclusive.” Officials said, ‘Shaktiishri will have eight attention points, including the Power Empowerment Cell, Shakti Mobile Applications, Teaching and Code of Conduct for Employees, Safety Campaign (Plopy Work for Women Empowerment), Annual Complex Safety Report, Posh Act, 2013 or Women’s sexual harassment (prevention, prohibition and prevention) Acts on Workplace, Refruiting, CCTV Monitoring, Posh Act, 2013 or workplace. Online courses and Shakti Swaroopini on regulations.
He said that to provide assistance to women, each district will nominate five senior women professionals, who will be called ‘Shakti Ups’, who will guide the students and visit the campuses every three months.
Dedicated mobile app also launched
The Chief Minister said that a dedicated mobile app will also be launched, which will provide a safe platform to women students and employees to file a complaint as anonymous. Through this, they will be able to receive complaints and counseling through written, sound or video medium and can get access to mental health services through National Mental Health initiative ‘Tele-Manas’.
He said that apart from this, a half -yearly campaign called ‘Saf’ (Shaktishri Actions for Female Empowerment) will be launched to raise awareness about gender issues and harassment. Each institute will also have to submit an annual campus security report every year by 31 December.
24 -hour CCTV surveillance scope
According to Majhi, the complexes will be brought under the purview of CCTV monitoring 24 hours to increase security. He informed that an annual program called ‘Shakti Swaroopini’ will also be organized to receive training, share response and strengthen the program to students and faculty coordinators.
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