Andhra Pradesh inks pact with 14 firms to empower women under YSR Cheyutha scheme

Vijayawada: The Andhra Pradesh government has entered into a memoranda of understanding with 14 firms under YSR Cheyutha scheme to empower women and help them get sustainable income in the state, on Monday.

Under the scheme, the state government provides financial aid of Rs.75,000 in four phases to the women belonging to BC, SC, ST and minorities from rural areas to help them set up small business so that they would be trained in skill enhancement besides getting capital support and market linkages.

Minister for panchayat raj and rural development PRR Reddy said Chief Minister Jagan had taken up the YSR Cheyutha scheme in order to help poor women have financial sustenance. Under it, each woman would be given Rs.75,000 in four phases.

So far, 24 lakh women were given Rs.8,000 crore, he said.

In addition to the state’s financial aid, several financial institutions have extended loan worth of Rs.15.07 crore to 2.67 lakh women in the current fiscal.

He explained how these women started business in their villages and became financially strong. A command and control room was set up in order to provide advice and suggestions to the women on how to go about with their business.

Minister for municipal administration Botsa Satyanarayana said women aged between 45 and 60 were availing financial support under the scheme in order to start a business and start earning on their own.

Agriculture minister Kannababu called upon firms dealing with horticulture, agriculture, food processing etc to have partnership with these women to help them take up business. He hoped that the MoUs entered therein would help the farmers and women and yield good results.

Minister for animal husbandry, Seediri Apppalaraju, said the state government’s move on entering into MoUs with several firms would ensure that women would not suffer due to financial hardships. The scheme would enable them become financially self-sustainable.