CM unveils women’s welfare schemes

On the occasion of International Women’s Day, the Andhra Pradesh government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu, unveiled a slew of welfare schemes aimed at empowering women across various sectors. The event, held in Markapuram on Saturday, witnessed the launch of multiple initiatives in collaboration with various organisations, reaffirming the government’s commitment to enhancing women’s livelihoods, safety, and financial independence.
With an ambitious goal of transforming lakhs of women into entrepreneurs, the government has outlined a roadmap supporting women’s participation in agriculture, manufacturing, services, and business sectors. Under the SERP, MEPMA, and MSME frameworks, an action plan has been rolled out to provide livelihood support to 10,000 women in the MSME sector by 2025-26.
To bolster safety measures, the Chief Minister launched ‘Sakthi Teams’ to curb harassment and provide immediate assistance in cases of crimes against women and children. These teams are expected to serve as a strong deterrent against crimes in public spaces.
To support women in the handloom industry, the government has introduced handloom ‘rathams’ to facilitate the marketing of products. Each district will receive a van worth Rs 60 lakh to streamline sales. Additionally, every woman present at the event received free yarn sufficient to weave 36 sarees.
In an effort to boost economic independence, the government is distributing 1.5 lakh free sewing machines along with training in tailoring, enabling women to earn a sustainable income.
A significant milestone was achieved in the “for women, to women, and by women” initiative, with over one lakh Dwcra products sold via the WowGenie app, generating Rs 5.13 crore in revenue. The initiative earned the Chief Minister a Guinness World Record for its remarkable success.
Urban and rural women received substantial financial backing through various loan schemes. Loans worth Rs 645.52 crore have been sanctioned to 7,471 urban women, with amounts ranging from Rs 50,000 to Rs 2 lakh. Meanwhile, rural women received cheques amounting to Rs 1,826 crore under productive loan schemes, alongside an additional Rs 1,000 crore disbursed through the Stree Nidhi Samshtha.
An agreement with Flipkart has been inked to market Dwcra products, with additional training provided in agricultural and non-agricultural trades. The government has also signed MoUs with the MS Swaminathan Research Foundation to enhance agro-product value chains and with the Centre for Collective Development for procuring organic products from Dwcra groups.
To encourage rural entrepreneurship, an agreement with Gatos Cafe will provide training to Dwcra women on running small-scale hotel businesses, fostering self-sufficiency.
A partnership with Home Triangle aims to train 18,515 service providers, ensuring a stable income of Rs 15,000 to Rs 35,000 per month. Additionally, women riders affiliated with Rapido will benefit from waived onboarding and monthly charges for three months. The state has also provided 1,000 electric vehicles, including 760 e-bikes and 240 e-autos, exclusively for women.
The government has partnered with Nature Araku Coffee to secure financial aid for expanding Araku coffee’s global market, with plans to establish 100 outlets creating employment opportunities for Dwcra women.
Recognising the contributions of Anganwadi and Asha workers, the government has introduced gratuity benefits. Over 55,607 Anganwadi workers and 48,909 helpers will receive amounts ranging from Rs 1.09 lakh to Rs 2.32 lakh. Similarly, gratuity benefits for Asha workers, effective from June 2024, will provide financial security to retired and deceased workers, with Rs 1.90 crore already allocated for dues.
Under the PM-Viswakarma scheme, the state has sanctioned loans of up to Rs 1 lakh for 1,000 women, helping them establish small-scale businesses and secure financial independence.
These sweeping initiatives underscore the government’s commitment to fostering women’s socio-economic growth and ensuring their security across Andhra Pradesh. With a focus on entrepreneurship, financial assistance, and safety, the state aims to create a more inclusive and prosperous future for women.