Ponguleti: Congress Will Make 1 Crore Women in Telangana Crorepaties
Speaking at a public meeting in Dammapeta, Bhadradri Kothagudem district, after distributing interest-free loan cheques to SHGs, Srinivas Reddy noted that the state currently has 66 lakh SHG members and aims to increase this to one crore.
Hyderabad: Revenue minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy on Wednesday reiterated the Congress government’s commitment to making one crore women in Telangana “crorepatis” by empowering self‑help groups (SHGs) through targeted financial schemes.
Speaking at a public meeting in Dammapeta, Bhadradri Kothagudem district, after distributing interest-free loan cheques to SHGs, Srinivas Reddy noted that the state currently has 66 lakh SHG members and aims to increase this to one crore.
He highlighted a key reform: lowering the minimum SHG membership age from 18 to 15 years and raising the maximum from 60 to 65 years. “This change will allow lakhs more women to join SHGs and benefit from government welfare,” he said.
Srinivas Reddy criticised the previous BRS government for neglecting SHGs and halting both pavala vaddi and interest‑free loans. “In the past 18 months, the Congress administration has disbursed Rs 865 crore under pavala vaddi and Rs 400 crore in interest-free loans to SHGs,” he stated.
Accusing the former regime of financial mismanagement, he said the Chandrashekar Rao government turned a “rich” Telangana into a debt-ridden state by borrowing Rs 8.19 lakh crore. “They squandered public funds on Kaleshwaram, Mission Bhagiratha, and Mission Kakatiya while ignoring women’s empowerment,” he alleged.
Turning to current initiatives, Srinivas Reddy said Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy launched the “Indira Mahila Shakti” scheme to promote women’s financial independence. “SHGs have been allotted solar power units, petrol pumps, and buses leased to TGRTC. These assets generate steady income for SHGs and help women become self-reliant,” he added.