Hyderabad, Aug.13 (RAHNUMA): The Telangana government on Thursday formally launched its ambitious ‘Intintaa Indiramma Sewing Machines’ scheme aimed at economically empowering BC women and promoting self-employment through tailoring.
Transport and BC Welfare Minister Ponnam Prabhakar launched the scheme at the Secretariat.
Speaking on the occasion, the Minister said the government, led by Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, was according priority to self-employment and economic empowerment of BC women. The scheme was aimed at transforming women from beneficiaries of welfare programmes into self-employed entrepreneurs, he said.
Under the scheme, 1,19,000 automatic sewing machines would be distributed, with 1,000 machines allocated to each of the 119 Assembly constituencies in the State. Each machine, valued at Rs 12,000, would be provided with 100 per cent subsidy, imposing no financial burden on the beneficiaries. Applications from eligible BC women would be accepted from August 15 to September 15, Prabhakar said.
The scheme is primarily aimed at providing self-employment opportunities to unemployed BC women interested in tailoring. As per the guidelines, priority would be given to the poorest of the poor, widows, single women, homeless women, orphans, persons with disabilities and women with tailoring experience.
The Minister said beneficiary selection would be carried out in a completely transparent manner in accordance with government guidelines. Beneficiaries would also be required to undergo training in the operation of the sewing machines.
Ponnam Prabhakar said a large number of women were expected to apply for the scheme and 1.19 lakh eligible women would be covered in the first phase. The government would take steps to expand the scheme in future and extend its benefits to more BC women, he added.
The Minister also announced that Chief Minister Revanth Reddy would unveil the statues of Mahatma Jyotirao Phule and Savitribai Phule at 4 p.m. on August 14, opposite the HMDA Grounds.
He further said the Chief Minister would unveil the statue of Sardar Sarvai Papanna Goud on Tank Bund on August 18 to mark the birth anniversary of the legendary leader.
Government Advisor V. Hanumantha Rao, Government Whips Aadi Srinivas and Birla Ilaiah, MLAs Eerlapalli Shankarayya, Naveen Yadav, and Kaleru Venkatesh, chairpersons of various caste corporations, BC Welfare department secretary Balamaya Devi, and BC Welfare department officials Mallayya Battu and Alok Kumar, among others, participated in the programme.
