The role of women is important in family and society: Bhatti
Khammam: Deputy Chief Minister and Finance and Energy Minister Bhatti Vikramarka Mallu said that the Congress government is taking all steps for the economic empowerment of women in the state. He inaugurated the bus stop shelter, women tea stall, women lounge in the collectorate, staff dining hall and Indira Mahila Shakti canteen at Khammam Collectorate along with District Collector Muzammil Khan, Vyara MLA Maloth Ramdas and Additional Collector P Sreeja. Later, while interacting with the women members of the self-help group, the Deputy Chief Minister informed about the interest-free loan being given to women groups. He inquired about the nature of business activities to be carried out with the interest-free loan. He called for spreading awareness about the interest-free loan among all women groups. In this regard, he pointed out the neglect of the previous government towards women empowerment in the state. He said that women are respected as Maha Lakshmi and within 48 hours of the formation of the government, they were provided with the facility of free bus travel. He informed that the government is reimbursing Rs 400 crore every month for free bus travel to women. The Deputy Chief Minister informed that the government has launched a programme to provide basic facilities in government schools through Amma Adarsh Pathshala Committees. LPG cylinders for domestic use are being provided at a subsidy of Rs 500. The government believes that if women are financially strong, the whole family will develop. He called upon women to set up business units by taking loans with the support and training provided by the government. He said that the government will also set up MSME parks in every assembly constituency for women. He said that sites are being identified to set up MSME parks. Steps will also be taken by the government to provide marketing facilities for the products produced by women. Following the proposals of women, the government has issued instructions to bankers to provide additional loans of Rs 5,000 crore to women. He said that women should take advantage of these opportunities. He asked the Rural Development Department, SERP employees and officials to understand the government’s objectives and take these programmes to the village level. District Women’s Group Federation president Suhasini expressed confidence that women’s groups will become financially strong with the support of the government. State Warehousing Corporation chairman Rayala Nageswara Rao, State Handicrafts Development Corporation chairman Naidu Satyanarayana, Assistant Collector Mrinal Shrestha, DRDO PD Sanyasiah, DRO M Rajeshwari and other officials attended the programme.