Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik on Monday described mothers as born leaders and said they should be provided opportunities to showcase their leadership qualities

“The mothers, who take the entire responsibility of their families, have no problem in taking the responsibility of the society as well as the country. There is a spark of leadership in each mother,” Naveen said at an event organised to celebrate the International Women’s Day.

“It’s our responsibility to give them the opportunity to showcase their leadership qualities. We need to utilise their leadership qualities in the inclusive development of the nation,” he said.

Assuring that the BJD would continue to fight for the rights of women, Naveen raised the issue of providing 50 per cent reservation to women in Assemblies and Parliament.

“Our party has given 33 per cent of seats for women candidates in the last election,” the chief minister said.

Naveen enhanced the women’s quota to 50 per cent in the panchayat and urban local bodies polls in 2012. Naveen is now campaigning for implementation of 33 per cent reservation for women in state assemblies and Lok Sabha polls. His MPs have already raised the issue in Parliament umpteen times.

Naveen also pointed out how Mission Shakti was created in 2001, has been able to connect to one crore women and work for their socio-economic upliftment. He also mentioned about the state’s commitment to provide work to the women self-help group of nearly Rs 5,000 crore work order.

The Odisha government has announced to create an exclusive department for mission shakti. The mission shakti department will start functioning from April 1.