Self-Help Groups of about 10 to 15 rural women under NRLM (Aajeevika), built into Village and Cluster Federations.
16.2% of enterprises in Balasore are women-owned. 83% of women have their own bank account, close to the typical district. Small business loans in the district run at ₹50,600 per lakh population. NRLM Self Help Groups are the vehicle through which women access credit like this to build livelihoods.
74% of registered enterprises are in services while 26% are in manufacturing. Small and medium enterprises account for 2.9% of MSME employment. Enrolment in classes 9 to 12 equals 77% of the population of that age.
In Balasore, which ranks 18 of 30 in Odisha for youth opportunity, the overall opportunity score is 43.7 out of 100. It trails the national picture on women's freedom of movement at 23.2%, against 40.8% nationally and women taking part in all major household decisions at 50.3%, against 72.8% nationally. On women in the labour force at 45.8%, it sits close to the national mark.