ANTODAYA has been trying to give special importance to the process of empowerment of women and mobilizing them by ensuring their participation in all programs. Special strategy has been put in motion to appoint women animators in selected programs and groom them as leaders. Women self-groups have been promoted and their leaders have been trained in leadership development, micro enterprises, savings and credit management etc.An independent woman's organization representing federation of self-help groups has also been promoted. All the projects have also tried to address the problems of child and maternal health, education of girls and problems arising due to lack of immunization facilities in the area. All these efforts have helped the organization to form 126 Women self help groups and establish linkage with banks to avail credit assistance for SHGs apart from forming an independent women people’s organization. The women leaders created by the organization are now taking confident strides and helping to change the position of other women. The SHGs have showed their credibility in every aspect ranging from savings to liquor eradication. The efforts have resulted in eradicating the exploitation of Moneylenders.One of our promoted SHGs (Palli Bikash women SHG of Karadapadar village) got the Best SHG award under Mission Shakti of Orissa Government from Chief Minister Orissa for the year 2002. ANTODAYA also got the award of third best Organisation in Orissa for the year 2001 from NABARD for the commendable work of SHG promotion and linkage.