Kandhama, Jan, 08: The Mission Shakti Café located within the Tumudibandh Block premises under the Baliguda subdivision of Kandhamal district was formally inaugurated by Kandhamal MP Sukanta Kumar Panigrahi. At the outset, women members of the Self-Help Groups, CRP-CM and MBK welcomed the guests by offering flowers and traditional scarves (uttariya).
The programme was presided over by Tumudibandh Block Development Officer Banabihari Harpal. As the chief guest, Kandhamal MP Sukanta Kumar Panigrahi inaugurated the Mission Shakti Café building. Distinguished guests included Baliguda ITDA Project Administrator Krupa Sindhu Behera, Tumudibandh MP representative Purna Chandra Padhi, Tumudibandh Block Vice-Chairman Santosh Kumar Sahu, former BJP district president Jagannath Sahu, former Zilla Parishad Vice-Chairman Netra Manaseth, senior leader Padma Charan Das, Tumudibandh Mandal President Sarbeswar Majhi, senior leader Srichandra Paraseth, among others.
After the inauguration, the MP visited the café and interacted with the members of the Maa Gajalaxmi Self-Help Group, which has been entrusted with the responsibility of managing the café.
On the occasion, MP Panigrahi said that there was no Mission Shakti Café earlier in Tumudibandh Block. As a result, people coming from distant panchayats for various official works had to complete their tasks at the block office and then spend more money at market hotels for food before returning home. Keeping this in mind, the Mission Shakti Café has been set up where women Self-Help Groups will prepare tea, snacks, and meals and provide tasty food to people at affordable prices. On one hand, local residents will get access to good quality food, and on the other hand, women Self-Help Group members will become economically self-reliant.
Among others present at the programme were Tumudibandh CDPO Lata Digal, Mission Shakti Accountant Babuli Nayak, LM BPM Akshay Kumar Pradhan, BLC Badal Pradhan, BPC Saroj Kumar Digal, and women members of various Self-Help Groups.
The programme concluded with a vote of thanks to all participants.