“Our government strongly believes that women should live with dignity. After the formation of the People’s government, women’s self-help groups with 67 lakh members were revived,” he explained, stating that the Congress government’s goal was to make one crore women millionaires in Telangana
Hyderabad: Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy reiterated the Congress government’s commitment to transforming one crore women's self-help group (SHG) members into millionaires over the next four years. As a step towards this goal, he inaugurated the first petrol pump operated by women SHGs in Narayanpet on Friday.
Addressing the event, the Chief Minister announced that land would be allotted in every district for women’s self-help groups to establish petrol pumps. Initially, the government will facilitate setting up one petrol pump per district on government land, followed by expansion to each Assembly constituency.
He hinted at organising a public meeting with one crore women alongside the ORR in Hyderabad and inviting Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the event. He said that with BJP Lok Sabha member D.K. Aruna’s cooperation, he wanted to invite Modi to this event to demonstrate "Mahila Shakti" and seek greater financial support for women SHGs from the Centre.
He said that both the state and central governments must work together in a ‘give and take’ spirit for women’s development.
Reddy said that women’s empowerment is the priority of the Congress government. He noted that SHGs were revived soon after the party assumed power, and currently 67 lakh women are part of these groups. The government aims to increase this number to one crore, ensuring women's participation in various sectors.
Reddy highlighted several initiatives of the Congress government aimed at boosting women's financial independence.
Women SHGs already own 600 buses in TGSRTC, and plans are underway to allow them to establish 1,000 MW solar power plants. Additionally, women’s groups have been provided 3.5 acres in Hitech City’s Shilparamam to sell their handmade products, he said.
The Chief Minister announced that each woman in SHGs would receive two saris annually as a government gift, with an allocation of Rs 1,000 crore for this scheme from this year. He also stated that the management of government schools in rural areas would be handed over to women groups, urging them to focus on development of schools while assuring government support.
