Hyderabad: All districts in the state of Telangana will soon have Indira Mahila Shakthi Bhavans. These centers will serve as hubs for various activities including training programs, marketing of Self Help Group (SHG) products, common workspaces, and venues for exhibitions and livelihood events such as SARAS melas. The government has allocated Rs 110 crore for the construction of these bhavans in 22 districts, according to an official statement.
The Indira Mahila Shakthi policy was introduced by the state government to empower SHGs through various livelihood activities. Telangana has a large and active network of women SHGs, with over 63 lakh members spread across both rural and urban areas.
This network of women has become a significant strength for the state, especially in terms of financial inclusion. The government now aims to shift the focus from just savings and bank linkages to turning these SHGs into centers for economic empowerment. The goal is to promote livelihood initiatives and wealth creation among SHGs.
To further support the SHGs, the government has decided to construct office-cum-training buildings for Zilla Samakhyas (district-level SHG bodies) at district headquarters. These buildings, named Indira Mahila Shakthi Bhavans, will be the central hubs for SHG-related activities in each district.
According to the CEO of the Society for Elimination of Rural Poverty (SERP), only 10 district headquarters currently have such buildings. There is a need for new constructions in 22 districts. The government has been advised to release necessary orders and allocate funds for this purpose.
The districts where the new bhavans will be constructed include Medchal-Malkajgiri, Mancherial, Rajanna Sircilla, Hanamkonda, Kamareddy, Nizamabad, Mulugu, Narayanpet, Jagtial, Jayashankar Bhupalapally, Wanaparthy, Medak, Suryapet, Yadadri-Bhuvanagiri, Nagarkurnool, Nirmal, Mahabubabad, Bhadradri-Kothagudem, Jangaon, Kumuram Bheem Asifabad, Peddapally, and Jogulamba-Gadwal.
