Naidu, Chouhan highlight role of SHGs in promoting women empowerment

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Union Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu have highlighted the role of women’s Self-Help Groups (SHGs) in promoting rural entrepreneurship and economic empowerment at the National Saras Mela 2026 in Vijayawada.

The National Saras Mela 2026 was inaugurated by President Draupadi Murmu here on Thursday. Governor S. Abdul Nazeer was among those present. The event, being held in Vijayawada for the first time outside Delhi, provides a platform for women entrepreneurs from across the country to showcase their products and strengthen their marketing networks.

Mr. Shivraj Singh Chouhan said the Union government was working towards creating six crore Lakhpati Didis across the country, with more than 3.5 crore women having already achieved the target of earning at least ₹1 lakh annually. Andhra Pradesh accounted for 23 lakh Lakhpati Didis against a target of 60 lakh, he said, calling for efforts to help women progress towards becoming Crorepati Didis.

Highlighting the financial progress made by rural women through Self-Help Groups (SHGs), he said their empowerment in economic, social, political and educational spheres was essential to achieve the goal of Viksit Bharat by 2047.

Swayam A.P. brand

Mr. Naidu highlighted the ‘Swayam AP’ brand launched by the State government to market products made by women’s self-help groups, and said the initiative would help them expand their businesses through e-commerce platforms and online shopping channels.

Andhra Pradesh had 11 lakh SHGs with a combined turnover of ₹69,000 crore, making them a significant force in the State’s economy. The DWCRA savings movement, which began in undivided Andhra Pradesh, had evolved into a major economic enterprise, he said.

The government had transformed one lakh SHG members into entrepreneurs over the past year and was working towards creating five lakh women entrepreneurs, with a long-term target of 10 lakh, Mr. Naidu said.

The Chief Minister called for SHGs to evolve from savings groups into business enterprises and eventually establish international brands. The government was also working to provide women with economic, social and political security, he said.

Mr. Naidu said the government would provide permanent spaces for the SARAS Mela in Vijayawada and establish dedicated C-Marts to ensure sustained marketing opportunities for women entrepreneurs. The proposed marketing infrastructure was intended to help rural producers reach wider markets.

Referring to welfare initiatives, he said women had made 100 crore journeys under the Stree Shakti free bus travel scheme. The government’s objective was to ensure that women moved from welfare to wealth, he added.

Mr. Naidu said every SHG should emerge as an economic force, every woman as an entrepreneur and every village as an employment hub to realise the Swarna Andhra 2047 vision.