Bhubaneswar: The ADVIKA initiative by the Odisha government, designed to empower girls aged 10-19 through life skills education and awareness sessions, is gaining momentum.

In a significant advancement for the program, the state’s Women and Child Development (WCD) Department has formalized a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Birla Global University (BGU) in Bhubaneswar. This partnership aims to enhance the life skills, leadership abilities, and digital literacy of adolescent girls across the state.

According to the terms of the agreement, BGU will facilitate a six-day residential training course for 50 ADVIKA beneficiaries on its Bhubaneswar campus. Additionally, a four-week community training program will be conducted for 50 peer leaders in the Nimapada block of Puri district, enabling them to support and guide adolescents within their local communities.

The MoU was signed on Thursday by Mrinalini Darswal, Commissioner-cum-Secretary of the department, and Kulbhushan Balooni, Vice-Chancellor of BGU, with the presence of senior officials from the department and faculty from the university.

During the signing ceremony, Darswal emphasized the importance of equipping adolescent girls with the necessary skills to thrive in a digital and knowledge-centric environment, enabling them to make informed decisions and act as agents of change in their communities.

Balooni expressed the university’s dedication to delivering high-quality training and mentorship as part of the initiative.