HYDERABAD: Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy has asked Self-Help Group (SHG) women to set up Mahila Shakti Super Bazaars across the state on the lines of supermarkets operated by corporate companies, promising a corpus fund for the purpose. He also advised them to establish rice mills and large godowns, assuring interest-free bank loans. Additionally, he announced an increase in bank linkages for SHGs from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 10 lakh.
On Monday, the chief minister, along with Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka and ministers D Seethakka and Ponguleti Srinivasa Reddy, virtually laid the foundation stone for the construction of 8,000 SHG buildings across the state.
On the occasion, he appealed to every SHG member to invest Rs 5,000 or Rs 10,000 in setting up a Super Bazaar, assuring them that the government would allot land in towns on a 30-year lease for a nominal rent. He suggested establishing one Super Bazaar in each constituency in Phase I and advised SHG members to compete with large retail outlets such as Big Bazaar and D-Mart.
He explained that the objective was to provide quality products to consumers, create markets for farmers’ produce and generate income for SHGs. The state government itself would become a stakeholder in these Mahila Shakti Super Bazaars, ensuring that quality agricultural produce, organic products and essential commodities reach consumers directly, he added.
Revanth also suggested that SHG members establish rice mills and construct large godowns to store paddy so that they could supply rice directly to the government. He expressed hope that women would ensure accountability for every grain and that the system would become more transparent and responsible under their management.
In future, paddy will be stored in SHG godowns: Revanth
“During the paddy procurement process, issues related to transportation, milling and middlemen are arising. The government will provide land. You should establish rice mills and construct large godowns on 20, 50 or even 100 acres, if needed, at logistics parks in all mandals. Some millers are not returning the rice after milling. A few middlemen and rice millers are cheating the government. In future, no paddy will be stored in rice mills. It will instead be stored in godowns constructed by SHG members and sent from there for milling. The government is preparing plans accordingly,” he explained.
He instructed district collectors to send proposals for the construction of godowns and establishment of rice mills.
Meanwhile, the chief minister reiterated that the government’s aim was to make one crore women crorepatis by 2034. He said the government had spent about Rs 10,000 crore over the last 29 months on free bus travel for women and alleged that a few persons had attempted to stop the scheme. They had also provoked autorickshaw drivers to protest against it, he added.
Revanth said the government had implemented a plan under which SHGs purchased 1,000 buses and leased them to RTC, thereby making women owners of the buses. As part of this initiative, 553 more buses would be launched on June 5, he said.
He further said that solar energy would no longer remain limited to large corporates such as Adani and Ambani, as the government was facilitating the establishment of 1,000 MW solar power plants through SHGs.
“SHGs are also being made partners in the petrol bunk business, similar to those run by Reliance. Petrol bunks are being established under SHGs at district headquarters and key locations across the state,” he said.
