HYDERABAD, JULY 17 :  Telangana Civil Supplies and Irrigation Minister Capt N Uttam Kumar Reddy on Wednesday said that the Congress Government is redefining women’s empowerment in the state.

He claimed that a majority of the schemes being implemented are focused on women’s empowerment.
Speaking at the swearing-in ceremony of Nerella Sharada as the Chairperson of the Telangana State Commission for Women at Buddha Bhavan here, Reddy highlighted several innovative schemes launched by the Congress Government to ensure the economic empowerment of women.

He mentioned that schemes like Mahalakshmi, Gruha Jyothi, and Indiramma Indlu have benefitted lakhs of women daily, monthly, and permanently. More than 14 lakh women are utilizing the free travel service in RTC buses across Telangana daily.

Under Maha Lakshmi scheme, TGSRTC has issued nearly 55 crore zero tickets to women passengers, providing them independence and freedom to travel.

The Minister also pointed out that cooking gas cylinders at Rs 500 benefit around 40 lakh women, with each household saving over Rs 400 per month. He assured that the Mahalakshmi scheme, would be fine-tuned to include more beneficiaries, ensuring every eligible woman receives the benefits of the scheme, which is one of the six promises made by Congress before the Assembly election.

Under the Gruha Jyothi scheme, lakhs of families have been receiving free electricity for up to 200 units, empowering women by reducing their electricity expenses. Additionally, the Indiramma Indlu scheme aims to provide houses to homeless poor families, with 4.50 lakh houses sanctioned at an outlay of Rs 22,500 crore in the first phase. These houses will be sanctioned in the name of women beneficiaries, granting them the authority to manage their families better.

Reddy pointed out that it was the woman Sonia Gandhi who converted Telangana’s 60-year-old dream into a reality. Therefore, women will continue to receive priority in all sectors under the Congress Government.

Uttam emphasized that women played a crucial role in the Congress party’s victory in the last Assembly election. He assured that all promises made to the people would be fulfilled, and the Congress party is committed to the socio-economic empowerment of women, providing them equal opportunities for growth in all sectors.

The Minister mentioned that several schemes are in the pipeline to further empower women in Telangana.

Reddy criticized the previous BRS regime for neglecting women. While the Congress government, headed by Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, has given cabinet berths to two women, there were no women ministers in the first term of the BRS Government. He cited the example of the Global Entrepreneurship Summit 2017 in Hyderabad, attended by Ivanka Trump, where no woman Minister represented Telangana.

He expressed hope that Nerella Sharada, as the new Chairperson of the Women’s Commission, would play an active role in women’s empowerment. The Minister assured that the Congress Government would adopt a zero-tolerance policy regarding women’s safety, ensuring that women feel safe at their workplaces, on roads, and in their homes.(UNI)