Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy said the ten-year "Chandra Grahan" that affected the state had gone and now women are living with freedom, shining and excelling in all fields and also living with self-respect. Women of the state were crucial in giving power to Congress, thus bringing Indiramma Rajyam and Praja Palana in Telangana, Revanth added.

Like how Indiramma and NTR took up welfare initiatives for women, your "Revanth anna" will leave no stone unturned to make one crore SHG members as Crorepatis that will also help in the state's goal to reach an economy of 1 Trillion USD, CM said

Addressing the Indira Mahila Shakti meeting conducted by the Congress government at Parade Ground on the eve of International Women's Day on Saturday, Revanth Reddy pointed out that women SHGs faced neglect during the previous BRS regime. However, soon after the Congress government made amends and took various steps to empower women and make them financially independent.

Decision to make SHGs produce 1000 MW of solar power, 1000 electric RTC buses ownership, handing over maintenance of schools under Amma Adarsha Pathshala, stitching 1.3 crore school uniforms to students from government schools, allocating 150 shops for SHGs in Shilparamam bazaar etc to name a few are helping women SHGs to stand on their own feet with self respect. 

The government also decided to make women SHGs as rice mill owners so that they will procure the paddy and sell the rice to the government as the present system that flourished under the previous BRS rule is found to be corrupted, Revanth said. We will allot land, give funds for the infrastructure for setting up the mills to women SHGs, the CM informed. Revanth Reddy and his cabinet ministers gave a cheque amounting to Rs 22,794 crore to women SHGs of the state. Also, Indira Mahila Shakti-2025 policy was launched by the CM and the Council of Ministers on this occasion.

MLA, MP tickets assurance to SHG members

Pointing to Rajiv Gandhi's reservation decision for women in local bodies and Sonia Gandhi's relentless fight to bring the same in state assemblies and in parliament, Revanth said the day is not too far when 33 percent quota for women in legislatures and parliament comes into effect. Revanth called upon the women SHG members to build leadership qualities, to raise their voice for the people and the bright ones will be offered Congress tickets.

Age-relaxation to enrol members

Further, Revanth Reddy said that the government has decided to relax the age-limit to enrol members into SHGs from the existing 18 to 60 years to 15 to 65 years. Tenth class girls have a good awareness of needs and expenses in a family, which is why we have revised the starting age limit to 15 years, CM added. Our effort to increase the enrolment from the present 65 lakh to 1 crore members was hampered by the age limit fixed earlier and hence this decision was taken, he said.

BRS celebrating SLBC mishap

Revanth Reddy lashed out at BRS for celebrating SLBC miners trapped mishap, any major accident taking place in Telangana or even if agricultural crops go dry etc. Their only aim is to target Revanth Reddy and not bother about the well being of the people. They should come out of this mindset. Being in power for 10 years, Revanth said he hopes BRS takes a step forward to offer constructive suggestions to government on various issues and matters concerning the state

CM lays foundation stone for a new campus for VCIMU

Earlier Revanth Reddy laid the foundation stone for works for a new college building, hostels and other infrastructure and renovation of the Durbar hall in the women's university to be taken up with a budget of Rs 535 crores. Addressing the women students, CM instructed the officials to complete the works in 30 months with the state-of-the-art infrastructure and added that his government will not mind releasing another 100 to 200 crores if further needed for the project.

He called upon the students to utilize the opportunity to study well in an institution with a 100-year history and compete with students from Oxford and Stanford universities. Revanth Reddy also appealed to all students of the women's university to excel in all fields and fulfill former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi's dream.