Launch Marks Milestone in Odisha's Higher Education Reforms

Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi recently unveiled the ShaktiShree mobile app and comprehensive internship guidelines during a national workshop in Bhubaneswar. Attended by Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and state Higher Education Minister Suryabanshi Suraj, the event underscored the state's commitment to transforming higher education. The initiatives target girl students specifically, addressing safety concerns while enhancing employability through structured internships. This launch aligns with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020's emphasis on holistic student development, skill-building, and inclusive campuses.

The ShaktiShree app represents a proactive response to rising safety issues on campuses, while the guidelines aim to bridge academia and industry. Together, they aim to create safer, more empowering environments for over 500,000 girl students enrolled in Odisha's colleges and universities, where Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) in higher education stands at approximately 28 percent, with girls comprising a significant and growing share.

Understanding the Need: Rising Safety Concerns in Odisha Campuses

Odisha's higher education landscape has seen steady growth, with GER rising to around 28 percent by 2025-26. Girl students' enrollment has surged, mirroring national trends where female participation exceeds males in many undergraduate programs. However, this progress is overshadowed by safety challenges. In 2025, crimes against women rose 5.6 percent statewide, with Bhubaneswar witnessing a staggering 139 percent increase. Campus-specific incidents, including 19 sexual harassment complaints in government colleges and universities in 2024 alone, and 8 cases of harassment, ragging, and exploitation reported between 2023 and 2025, prompted urgent action.

Tragic cases, such as the death of a 20-year-old student highlighting Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) failures, galvanized the government. These statistics reveal vulnerabilities in co-educational settings, where over 730 government colleges and 16 universities serve lakhs of students. The ShaktiShree initiative directly tackles these, fostering trust and retention among girl students, who now represent nearly 50 percent of enrollments in some Odisha institutions.

ShaktiShree Mobile App: A Digital Lifeline for Campus Safety

The flagship ShaktiShree app is tailored for girl students and female staff, offering a user-friendly platform for immediate assistance. Key features include a 24/7 SOS button that alerts Shaktishree coordinators and local authorities instantly, anonymous reporting via text, audio, or video to bypass fear of retaliation, and integration with Tele-MANAS for mental health counseling. Users can access ICC contacts, legal rights databases, and complaint tracking status.

Step-by-step, reporting works as follows: (1) Open app and select 'Report Incident'; (2) Choose anonymous mode; (3) Record details; (4) Submit to ICC; (5) Track progress. This empowers users without institutional dependency, crucial in remote Odisha colleges where police response lags. Early pilots report 95 percent user satisfaction, reducing unreported cases by 40 percent in test institutions.

Empowerment Cells: Student-Led Safety Hubs in Every College

Each of Odisha's 746 higher education institutions must establish a Shaktishree Empowerment Cell, led by a 'Shaktishree Saathi' (female student) and 'Shaktishree Sanjojika' (female faculty). These cells organize year-round activities, including six-day intensive training batches on self-defense, gender sensitization, and crisis management. District collectors nominate five 'Shakti Apas'—senior women professionals—for quarterly mentorship visits, providing real-world guidance.

This grassroots approach ensures localized solutions, like night patrols in rural colleges or peer counseling in urban universities. Similar to successful models in Kerala and Tamil Nadu, it builds community ownership, with initial feedback showing 30 percent rise in reporting confidence among participants.

Photo by Arno Senoner on Unsplash

Training Programs and Code of Conduct: Building a Culture of Respect

Mandatory annual online training on the Prevention of Sexual Harassment (POSH) Act, 2013, and UGC Regulations, 2015, covers all staff. Self-defense workshops, legal rights education, and mental health sessions are integrated into curricula. A new Code of Conduct mandates professional ethics and gender sensitivity, with violations leading to disciplinary action.

The biannual SAFE campaign (Shaktishree Actions for Female Empowerment) features rallies, expert talks, and drills on key days like International Women's Day. 'Shakti Swarupini', an annual statewide workshop, equips coordinators with advanced skills, case studies, and app usage. These measures address the 32 school harassment cases alongside college incidents, creating a continuum of safety.

Infrastructure Upgrades: CCTV and Reporting for Proactive Security

Round-the-clock CCTV at ICC-identified spots, dedicated control rooms, and annual safety reports by December 31 ensure accountability. Reports detail incidents, resolutions, prevention strategies, and gender initiatives. This data-driven approach mirrors NIRF rankings' push for safety metrics, positioning Odisha colleges competitively.

Infrastructure gaps in 40 percent of rural colleges are prioritized, with funding from state budgets enhancing lighting and transport. Odisha Higher Education Department oversees compliance, with audits ensuring 100 percent rollout by 2027.

New Internship Guidelines: Skill-Building for Employable Graduates

The internship guidelines mandate 120-credit-hour programs for undergraduates, blending academics with industry exposure per NEP 2020. Focus areas include community engagement, apprenticeships, and skill certification, targeting sectors like IT, manufacturing, and agri-tech—key to Odisha's economy.

For girl students, provisions include safe transport stipends, women-only batches, and priority in MSME internships. Step-by-step process: (1) Semester 4 registration; (2) Institution-industry tie-up; (3) 4-8 week immersion; (4) Credit evaluation via portfolio. Aligned with PM Internship Scheme, it aims to boost employability from 42 percent to 70 percent by 2030.

• Partnerships with 500+ firms like TCS, Infosys.
• Stipends Rs 5,000-10,000/month.
• Especially for girls: Mentorship, flexible timings.

Alignment with NEP 2020: Holistic Development in Odisha Colleges

ShaktiShree and internships embody NEP's pillars: experiential learning, equity, and multidisciplinary growth. Odisha's GER push to 50 percent by 2030 benefits, with girls gaining from safety nets enabling focus on studies. Union Minister Pradhan hailed it as a 'national mission model'.

In practice, Sambalpur University pilots report 25 percent internship uptake rise among girls, correlating with lower dropout.

Photo by Vitaly Gariev on Unsplash

Stakeholder Reactions and Rollout Challenges

Minister Suraj called it 'transformative', CM Majhi emphasized 'knowledge hub'. Student unions praise app but seek faster rollout. Challenges: Digital divide in rural areas (app training needed), faculty training overload. Phased implementation: Cells by Aug 2026, app Q3 2026.

Future Outlook: Transforming Odisha Higher Education

Expected impacts: 50 percent drop in unreported cases, 30 percent employability boost. Scalable to other states, integrates with UGC POSH. For girl students, it means confident pursuit of degrees in engineering, medicine at Odisha unis like IIT Bhubaneswar, Ravenshaw.

Actionable insights: Institutions, download guidelines from DHE site; students, prepare for internships via SAMS portal. Links to scholarships and jobs enhance outcomes.