<span style="color: #222222;">Odisha government will set up a new department, namely the Department of Mission Shakti. A proposal to this effect has received the nod of the state cabinet yesterday. The new department will work towards strengthening the 'self help group' initiatives already taken by departments and agencies by bringing them all under one platform to ensure greater focus and synergy and to avoid duplication in activities.<br />'' <br />'' AIR correspondent reports that coming just ahead of the International Women's Day tomorrow, the decision to create the department of Mission Shakti is the realisation of the announcement made by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on the 8th of March last year.<br />'' <br />'' On the occasion, the Chief Minister said that Mission Shakti, one of the key initiatives of Odisha's empowerment model, has brought over 8 million women from the four walls of the house into socio-economic vibrancy. He said,  rural women in Odisha are now increasingly becoming a major contributor to the growing economy of the state. </span><br />''  <br />