Wanaparthy: Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) President Capt. N. Uttam Kumar Reddy has promised that after coming to power in 2019 elections, the next Congress Government would take measures for greater financial empowerment of women Self Help Groups in the State.
Addressing a huge gathering of women at ‘Mahila Garjana’ organised by TPCC Mahila Congress, party’s women wing, at Wanaparthy on Monday, Uttam Kumar Reddy made several promises for the women SHGs and packaged them as ‘Wanaparthy Declaration’.
He said that the SHGs were highly stable during previous Congress regime which provided them interest free loans. However, the activities of SHGs came to a standstill after TRS came to power.
He promised that each member of all SHGs would be given a monthly pension of Rs. 1,000 under Abhya Hashtam Scheme. This will be in addition to other pensions they are getting right now.
Further, he said that the services of nearly 4,200 staff working for Society for Elimination of Rural Poverty (SERF) on contract would be regularised. He said that the salary of about 15,600 Village Organisation Assistant (VOAs) will be increased from present Rs. 3,000 to Rs. 10,000.
Uttam Kumar Reddy also announced that dues amounting to Rs. 2,000 crore pending from the government towards interest subsidy towards bank loans taken by women SHGs would be cleared. He said each SHG will be permitted to get a bank loan of Rs. 10 lakh for which the interest will be paid by the government.
About 52 lakh women are associated with nearly 4.5 lakh SHGs in rural areas while 15 lakh women are members of 1.5 lakh SHGs in urban areas. Overall, the next Congress Government would take measures for economic empowerment of nearly 70 lakh members of SHGs in the State.
The Congress leader said a revolving fund of Rs. 1 lakh will be paid for each SHG in Telangana State to further financially empower the SHGs/ and ensure greater economic activity which will also benefit the State.
He also announced that each member of a women SHG would be given free life insurance which would provide them a cover of Rs. 2.5 lakh for natural death and Rs. 5 lakh for accidental death. He said the amount for performing last rites will be increased from Rs. 5,000 to Rs. 10,000.
The TPCC chief also promised that if voted to power, the next Congress Government would construct new buildings for SHGs by spending Rs. 15 lakh in villages and Rs. 30 lakh in mandals.
Uttam Kumar Reddy said lakhs of women SHGs were left in the lurch by the present TRS Government. He said Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao gives no importance to women which was evident from the absence of a woman minister in his cabinet.
The meeting was also addressed by AICC Secretary R.C. Khuntia, All India Mahila Congress president and MP Sushmita Dev, TPCC Mahila Congress president Nerella Sharada, TPCC Working President Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, MLAs G. Chinna Reddy and D.K. Aruna and other leaders. (INN)