Hyderabad: Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka on Monday said the state government was giving top priority to the women’s empowerment programme through financial assistance and infrastructure support for Self-Help Groups (SHGs).
Along with Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, Bhatti Vikramarka virtually participated from the Secretariat in the groundbreaking ceremony for 8,000 SHG buildings across Telangana.
During the programme, he outlined several measures taken by the government to strengthen women economically.
Bhatti Vikramarka said women’s groups earlier faced severe difficulties because villages lacked dedicated office buildings for SHGs.
According to him, women conducted meetings in panchayat offices, private houses and sometimes under trees due to the absence of proper facilities.
He said the government decided to construct permanent buildings to provide dignity and better working spaces for women’s groups.
The Deputy Chief Minister expressed confidence that the 8,000 SHG buildings would become a model for the country.
Women’s empowerment programme focuses on financial growth
Bhatti Vikramarka criticised BRS leaders for mocking the government after it announced plans to make one crore women millionaires.
He said the opposition also criticised the government’s promise to provide loans worth Rs. 1 lakh crore over five years through bank linkage schemes.
“This is not a government of words, but a government of action,” Bhatti Vikramarka said.
He stated that the government provided Rs. 60,000 crore to women through bank linkage schemes within two-and-a-half years.
According to him, the government was now preparing plans to increase the amount beyond Rs. 1.25 lakh crore in the coming years.
The Deputy Chief Minister said the achievement proved the government’s commitment towards women’s welfare.
He further stated that the government enhanced the interest-free loan limit for women’s groups from Rs. 5 lakh to Rs. 10 lakh through a Government Order.
Bhatti Vikramarka said Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and Panchayat Raj and Rural Development Minister Dansari Anasuya Seethakka played a key role in implementing the decision.
Women’s empowerment programme targets one crore women
The Deputy Chief Minister said the goal of making one crore women millionaires was not limited to announcements alone.
He stated that the Chief Minister issued clear directions to officials regarding implementation of the programme.
According to Bhatti Vikramarka, the government asked officials to fix targets and prepare a timeline for execution.
He expressed confidence that women belonging to Self-Help Groups would utilise the opportunities effectively and emerge as role models for the country.