Hyderabad: Seethakka welfare schemes have enabled a 30-year-old engineering graduate from Telangana to earn nearly Rs 1 lakh per month through a construction-related enterprise.
Peddhabudi Vanaja, a Computer Science Engineering graduate from Bandapalli village in Panagal mandal of Wanaparthy district, moved away from conventional employment and became an entrepreneur. She now generates income and provides employment opportunities, aligning with the State government’s vision of creating one crore women entrepreneurs.
Her progress reflects the impact of initiatives led by Panchayat Raj and Rural Development, and Women and Child Welfare departments under Minister Dr. Danasari Anasuya Seethakka. The programmes were implemented with support from the Society for Elimination of Rural Poverty (SERP), headed by Divya Devarajan.
Seethakka welfare schemes drive construction sector entry
Officials said Seethakka welfare schemes focused on non-conventional sectors such as centring units, cement brick manufacturing and shear wall construction. These initiatives opened new livelihood avenues for rural women like Vanaja.
Vanaja was among 772 women who received specialised training from SERP in collaboration with the National Academy of Construction. The training programme aimed to build technical knowledge, improve safety practices and strengthen managerial capacity in construction activities.
Participants were trained in centring fundamentals and its role in ensuring quality concrete structures. They also learned to use materials such as timber, steel, aluminium and modular systems, with emphasis on precision and durability.
In addition, the programme covered practical aspects of establishing and managing centring units. It included manpower planning, procurement of materials and workflow management from design to execution. Trainees were taught to interpret design drawings and organise resources efficiently.
Seethakka welfare schemes support credit and expansion
Following the training, institutional support was extended to facilitate access to credit under Seethakka welfare schemes. Vanaja secured a loan of Rs 20 lakh through the Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP), which enabled her to establish her enterprise.
Officials said the State government plans to construct over 3.5 lakh houses under the Indiramma Housing Scheme during 2025–26. This has created significant demand for construction materials such as centring units, cement bricks and shear walls.
Recognising this demand, the Minister directed officials to train women and encourage their participation in the sector. Acting on these directions, SERP identified candidates and ensured targeted training interventions.
Out of the 772 trained women, 154 have already established centring units. Another 16 have applied for PMEGP support. SERP has also prepared Detailed Project Reports and forwarded them to districts to facilitate financial assistance through bank linkages.
Vanaja currently provides three centring units for the construction of Indiramma houses in her village. Each unit involves an investment of about Rs 4 lakh, which serves as a baseline support extended to trained members.
SERP continues to coordinate with Housing Department officials to ensure work allocation and effective utilisation of these units. Officials said progress is being monitored regularly, while efforts are ongoing to expand women’s participation in this emerging sector.