Hyderabad: Telangana Irrigation and Civil Supplies Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy on Monday said the Congress government, led by Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy and Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, is committed to women empowerment through a series of historic welfare and economic programmes.
Speaking at a Mahila Congress workers’ meeting in Yusufguda, as part of the Jubilee Hills by-election campaign, he said that for the first time in the state’s history, a comprehensive framework is being implemented to make women financially independent and socially empowered.
Congress welfare vision centres on women empowerment
Uttam Kumar Reddy outlined various initiatives aimed at strengthening women’s self-help groups (SHGs), including allocation of petrol and diesel bunks and solar power units to women collectives. “These projects reflect the Congress government’s sincerity and innovation in promoting women empowerment,” he said.
He noted that SHGs have also been entrusted with operating Indiramma Canteens and stitching uniforms for government school students, merging social welfare with livelihood generation.
The minister criticised the previous BRS government, alleging that it neglected SHGs for nearly a decade. “We acted immediately to revive the sector. Interest-free loans are now being provided, and the government bears the interest cost,” he said.
He announced a unique insurance scheme for SHG members, under which families will receive ₹10 lakh compensation in the event of accidental death, and the loan will be fully repaid through insurance coverage.
To institutionalise women’s collective activities, the state is constructing dedicated SHG buildings in every district at a cost of ₹5 crore each. “Women empowerment is at the heart of our governance model,” Uttam Kumar Reddy said.
Highlighting broader welfare efforts, he mentioned that over 40,000 new white ration cards were sanctioned in the Jubilee Hills constituency alone. The Congress government has also implemented free distribution of 6 kg fine rice per person, LPG cylinders at ₹500, and 200 units of free electricity for eligible families.
Expressing confidence in Congress candidate Naveen Yadav, he said the people of Jubilee Hills have recognised the party’s commitment to inclusive development. “Every woman must become a stakeholder in this transformation,” he urged.
Senior leaders including AICC Telangana in-charge Meenakshi Natarajan, V. Hanumantha Rao, MLA Yashaswini Reddy, and Mahila Congress President Sunita Rao attended the event.
