Telangana Hands Over 553 Buses to Women SHGs, Revanth Reddy Vows to Create One Crore Women Millionaires

Hyderabad, June 2026 : In a major push towards women’s economic empowerment, Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on Tuesday handed over 553 buses to women self-help groups (SHGs) under the state government’s flagship Mahila Shakti initiative. The buses, which will be operated by the Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TGSRTC) on a rental basis, are expected to provide a steady source of income to thousands of women across the state.

The buses were formally handed over during a large-scale event held at the Parade Grounds in Secunderabad despite heavy rainfall. The programme was organized as part of the government’s women empowerment celebrations under the ‘Praja Palana–Pragati Pranalika’ initiative.

Under the scheme, TGSRTC will hire the buses from women’s self-help groups, enabling each group to earn a monthly income of approximately Rs 70,000. The initiative is aimed at transforming women from beneficiaries of welfare programmes into active participants in economic growth.

During the event, the Chief Minister distributed financial assistance and cheques to self-help groups and Mandal Mahila Samakhyas under the Mahila Shakti and Mahalakshmi schemes. He handed over cheques worth Rs 20.34 crore towards bus rentals paid by TGSRTC, highlighted savings of Rs 10,700 crore generated through the free bus travel scheme for women, and announced the release of Rs 500 crore under the interest-free loan programme.

Addressing the gathering, Revanth Reddy said the government plans to expand the initiative significantly in the coming months. He announced that another 3,000 buses would soon be provided to women’s self-help groups and hired by TGSRTC, creating additional income opportunities for women entrepreneurs across Telangana.

The Chief Minister said the government has already facilitated bank linkages worth Rs 61,000 crore for self-help groups and paid nearly Rs 2,000 crore to banks under the zero-interest loan scheme. He reiterated his government’s commitment to transforming the economic landscape for women in the state.

“We will not rest until one crore women become crorepatis,” he declared, emphasizing that women’s economic empowerment remains one of the central goals of his administration.

Telangana currently has around 67 lakh women associated with self-help groups. Revanth Reddy called for increasing this number to one crore and asserted that helping these women become financially prosperous was a responsibility his government had willingly undertaken.

Highlighting the importance of women’s participation in achieving Telangana’s economic ambitions, he urged self-help groups to prepare local business plans and identify opportunities for entrepreneurship in their respective regions.

The Chief Minister also accused opposition parties of attempting to obstruct the government’s initiatives aimed at empowering women economically. However, he maintained that such efforts would not deter the government from pursuing its goal of creating one crore women millionaires.

“With the blessings and support of women, we will continue to serve the people and take this government forward until 2034,” he said.

Revanth Reddy pointed out that several welfare and development programmes are now being implemented with women at the centre. Under the Indiramma Housing Scheme, houses are being sanctioned in the names of women, and plans are underway to construct one lakh urban houses that will also be allotted to female beneficiaries.

He noted that under the Mahalakshmi scheme, which offers free travel for women on RTC buses, the government has already reimbursed more than Rs 10,000 crore to the transport corporation.

The Chief Minister further highlighted that women have been entrusted with the management of 27,000 schools under the Amma Adarsha Pathashala initiative. Women are also being given responsibility for operating Mahila Shakti canteens, while petrol pumps are being allotted to women entrepreneurs. District collectors have been directed to identify suitable government land in district headquarters to facilitate the establishment of petrol pumps by women.

Revanth Reddy said these initiatives reflect the government’s broader vision of ensuring that women become equal partners in Telangana’s development journey and emerge as powerful contributors to the state’s economic growth.

Team Maverick.