AP Seeks Centre's Support to Strengthen Entrepreneurship Among SHG Women

AP Andhra Pradesh government has stepped up its efforts to promote women belonging to Self-Help Groups (SHGs) as entrepreneurs in the food processing sector. In this regard, MSME and Rural Poverty Alleviation minister Kondapalli Srinivas held a series of meetings with the union government officials in New Delhi on Tuesday. Accompanied by officials, Srinivas met union Food Processing Industries secretary Avinash Prakash Joshi and joint secretary Devesh Deval to discuss measures for expediting implementation of the Prime Minister Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) scheme in Andhra Pradesh. This would strengthen support for women entrepreneurs. The AP minister proposed that subsidies for PMFME units established through loans sanctioned by Stree Nidhi be credited directly into the Stree Nidhi account. He urged the centre to extend interest subvention on Stree Nidhi loans to SHG women under the PMFME scheme, similar to the concession available to commercial banks under the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF). Further, Srinivas sought recognition of district and mandal federations as PMFME District Resource Organisations (DROs). This would help provide training, mentoring, and handholding support to women entrepreneurs. According to the minister, Avinash Prakash and Devesh responded positively to the proposals. The officials assured that the requests for direct subsidy release and interest subvention would be examined on priority. Srinivas said enhanced central support would help expand the reach of the PMFME scheme among rural SHG women in Andhra Pradesh. It would create new opportunities for entrepreneurship, employment, and income generation in the food processing sector. In a separate initiative, the minister sought establishment of a dedicated retail outlet for SWAYAM, the brand under which SHG women market their products, at the upcoming Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport at Bhogapuram. During his meeting with union Civil Aviation minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu and representatives of GMR Airport, Srinivas sought allotment of retail space for the SWAYAM brand. According to the minister, both the union minister and GMR officials assured him of their support for the proposal. This is expected to provide wider market access for products manufactured by SHG women in the state. .....................