HYDERABAD: Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy has appealed to women members of his Cabinet and women MLAs to become brand ambassadors of Indiramma sarees by wearing them.
He said every woman legislator should wear Indiramma sarees and enhance the self-respect of women.
After paying floral tributes to the statue of former prime minister Indira Gandhi at Necklace Road on Wednesday, her birth anniversary, the chief minister launched a programme to distribute one crore Indiramma sarees to one crore women.
Addressing the gathering, Revanth said that in view of the time-consuming process involved in weaving the sarees, Indiramma sarees will be distributed to the eligible in two phases.
Accordingly, all women beneficiaries in rural areas will be handed over the sarees in the first phase, which will be completed by December 9.
“In the second phase, the distribution of sarees for women in urban areas will begin on March 1 and be completed on March 8, International Women’s Day. As many as 65 lakh sarees will be distributed in this phase alone,” Revanth said.
Stating that the government has launched several schemes for women’s empowerment inspired by Indira Gandhi, the chief minister said that women’s groups are being encouraged to operate petrol pumps, and that 1,000 buses have been leased to self-help groups for the Telangana State Road Transport Corporation.
Indira’s services to country cannot be overlooked: CM
The chief minister added that Indiramma Houses are being sanctioned in the name of women, greater priority is being given to women’s empowerment in politics, and the government aims to help one crore women become millionaires.
Recalling the yeoman services rendered by Indira Gandhi to the country, he said that the late prime minister took the reins of the country when it was facing a political vacuum.
He said: “Indira Gandhi worked hard to fulfil the aspirations of Dr BR Ambedkar and also played a key role in the nationalisation of banks, introducing the Agricultural Land Ceiling Act, distribution of lands to the poor and construction of houses for the poor.”
He recalled that Indira Gandhi proved her mettle during the India-Pakistan war and safeguarded the country.