From Welfare to Wealth: Telangana’s Mission for One Crore Women Millionaires

Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on Tuesday unveiled an ambitious vision to transform the state's women into a major economic force, announcing that the government aims to create one crore women millionaires through Self-Help Groups (SHGs), entrepreneurship, and asset-based income opportunities over the coming years.

Speaking at the Women's Week celebrations organised under the Praja Palana – Pragathi Pranalika programme at Secunderabad's Parade Grounds, the Chief Minister said women would play a central role in Telangana's future growth story. As part of the event, he flagged off 553 buses owned by women's Self-Help Groups that have been integrated into the TGSRTC fleet under the Mahila Shakti Scheme .

Addressing a gathering of ministers, public representatives, officials, and thousands of women, Revanth Reddy announced that the government plans to facilitate the addition of another 3,000 buses through SHGs on a rental basis. He said women's groups at the village, mandal, and district levels would be encouraged to purchase buses and lease them to the state transport corporation, creating a sustainable source of revenue and strengthening women's participation in the economy.

The Chief Minister noted that nearly 67 lakh women are currently associated with Self-Help Groups across Telangana. The government now intends to expand the network to one crore members , with a larger objective of turning women into entrepreneurs, investors, and wealth creators rather than merely beneficiaries of welfare programmes.

Highlighting the state's efforts toward women-centric development, Revanth Reddy said the government has already entrusted women with responsibilities in sectors such as public transport, education, and community services. He pointed out that 27,000 government schools are being managed under the Amma Adarsha Pathashala initiative, while women's groups are also involved in operating petrol pumps, Mahila Shakti canteens, and other community-based enterprises.

The Chief Minister also underscored the success of the Mahalakshmi Scheme , which provides free bus travel for women. According to him, the state government has paid more than ₹10,000 crore to TGSRTC to support the programme, helping women save significantly on transportation costs while improving access to education, employment, healthcare, and markets.

On the financial front, Telangana has facilitated ₹61,000 crore in bank-linkage loans for Self-Help Groups and provided ₹2,000 crore in interest subsidies . During the event, the government distributed financial assistance, including ₹20.34 crore in bus lease payments and ₹500 crore towards interest-free loans .

Reiterating his government's commitment to women's empowerment, Revanth Reddy said Telangana's development model would increasingly focus on creating economic opportunities for women, placing them at the centre of the state's growth and prosperity.