Hyderabad, April 2 (RAHNUMA): With the objective of providing dedicated working and market spaces for women, the Panchayat Raj and Rural Development department has accelerated the construction of permanent buildings for women Self Help Groups (SHGs) in villages across the State.
The initiative is the brainchild of Panchayat Raj and Rural Development Minister Danasari Anasuya Seethakka to strengthen infrastructure for women SHGs at the grassroots level. The initiative, being implemented under the Indira Mahila Shakti scheme, is expected to serve as a platform for women’s economic and social empowerment.
“Providing a strong platform for women in every village is the government’s goal. These buildings will emerge as centres for economic and social empowerment, enabling women to expand self-employment opportunities and take collective decisions. The construction should be completed within a stipulated timeframe and made available for use at the earliest,” Minister Seethakka said.
A model building has been completed in Sarvepalli village of Atmakur mandal in Yadadri Bhuvanagiri district, while another has come up in Alwal village of Keshampet mandal in Rangareddy district.
Each building is being constructed on 200 square yards at an estimated cost of around ₹10 lakh.
These buildings will be managed by Village Organisations (VOs), the village-level federations of SHGs, and will serve as centres for meetings, training programmes, human resource development, and as marketplaces for women to sell or exhibit their products/artifacts.
According to official data, 8,193 villages have identified suitable land parcels, of which 6,261 have secured approvals from district collectors. Estimates have been prepared for 5,017 buildings, and construction is progressing at a brisk pace.
Minister Seethakka ensured effective coordination between the Society for Elimination of Rural Poverty (SERP) and the Panchayat Raj and Rural Development department.
As part of the ‘Praja Palana – Pragathi Pranalika’ 99-day action plan, Seethakka laid foundation stones for several such buildings in the Mulugu Assembly constituency on Thursday.
