Naidu targets 5 lakh women entrepreneurs in AP

Amaravati: Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has directed officials to take comprehensive measures to economically empower Self-Help Group (SHG) women and create five lakh women entrepreneurs across Andhra Pradesh.

Reviewing the programmes for women entrepreneurship and the ‘Swayam AP’ initiative with SERP and MEPMA officials at his camp office on Sunday, Naidu said Andhra Pradesh had one of the country’s most extensive SHG networks and called for creating opportunities for DWCRA women to take their products to national and global markets.

He directed officials to develop ‘Swayam AP’ as a common brand by bringing thousands of products made by SHG women under one platform, with standardised quality, attractive packaging, e-commerce facilities, signature stores and an integrated marketing system.

Women interested in self-employment should also be encouraged to establish franchises, he said.

The Chief Minister instructed officials to make the National Saras Mela 2026, to be held in Vijayawada from October 15 to 31, a major showcase of women’s empowerment. Officials said SHGs from across the country would set up around 600 stalls and nearly one lakh visitors were expected daily. President Droupadi Murmu is scheduled to formally inaugurate the event.

Officials informed Naidu that sales of Swayam AP products through signature stores and Flipkart would begin from October 15. They said a comprehensive strategy was being implemented covering market linkages, finance, training, quality standards and business development.

The programme envisages financial support through loans totalling Rs.68,585 crore, capacity-building and business management training in association with leading institutions, and an integrated entrepreneurship plan involving more than 60 organisations.

Successful women entrepreneurs are being connected with new entrepreneurs as mentors, while district-level camps and incubation programmes are being organised to transform rural livelihood activities into sustainable, wealth-creating enterprises.

In collaboration with IIM Visakhapatnam and Centurion University, women are being provided mentorship, market access, credit, resources and business skills. Officials said Stree Nidhi had already extended Rs.4,800 crore in loans to 4.73 lakh women, while SHG members were producing more than 23,000 products across food, handicrafts, textiles and other sectors.

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