Chief Minister Is Public Servant, Not Ruler, Says Naidu
CM says self-help groups enabled financial self-reliance, balanced welfare with growth
Vijayawada: Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Thursday said the Development of Women and Children in Rural Areas (DWCRA) movement he initiated three decades ago has turned into a national role model.
“This is enabling women to achieve financial self-reliance through thrift and self-help groups. It is a matter of great pride to see women standing on their own feet economically, “ the chief minister said.
Naidu launched the SARAS Mela–2026 in Guntur, visited the stalls set up by women entrepreneurs and interacted with members of the DWCRA and Mission for Elimination of Poverty in Municipal Areas (MEPMA) groups.
Addressing the gathering, he recalled that many mocked the initiative when DWCRA was introduced 30 years ago, with the objective of empowering women.
Naidu said, “Chief minister is a public servant, not a ruler. He stands with the people. Our government is balancing welfare with development.”
He pointed out that 1.13 crore DWCRA women in the state have mobilised a savings of Rs 26,000 crore and built a corpus fund of Rs 5,200 crore. During 2024–25 alone, DWCRA groups availed bank loans worth Rs 46,590 crore.
Congratulating Union Minister for State Pemmmasani Chandrasekhar for organising a national-level expo in Andhra Pradesh, he said SARAS Mela resembled a Mini India with a festive atmosphere. The mela, he added, would help brand traditional handicrafts, handlooms and local food products while providing strong market linkages.
Stressing entrepreneurship, the CM said the goal was to create an entrepreneur in every household. So far, 93,000 micro and MSME entrepreneurs have emerged, with DWCRA women even travelling abroad to train others. He reaffirmed his commitment to further strengthening the DWCRA system.
The Chief Minister said the Telugu Desam has shared a special bond with women from its inception. “NT Rama Rao ensured property rights for women on par with men and established Padmavathi University in Tirupati. As CM, we strengthened DWCRA groups to provide financial security. At present, 89 lakh women are members of DWCRA groups, and 24 lakh belong to MEPMA associations. By repaying loans on time, women gained the confidence of banks and achieved steady economic progress.”
Earlier, Naidu handed over cheques worth Rs 1,375 crore as loans to DWCRA groups under the Stree Nidhi scheme and Rs 2,171 crore through SERP to thrift groups. He also purchased a saree for his wife, Bhuvaneswari, from a handloom stall and sanctioned Rs 6 lakh from the CM’s Relief Fund to a DWCRA woman seeking help for her ailing husband.
