The State government of Telangana has decided to help Self Help Groups (SHGs) by providing them with bank loans to run RTC buses on hire. This step is aimed at improving the economic conditions of SHGs and helping them become more self-sufficient.
The SHGs will buy buses and operate them for the RTC (Road Transport Corporation). This decision was made due to the increasing demand for RTC buses, especially after the government introduced free travel for women across the State. To get the initiative started, the RTC will give rented buses to women’s associations in two districts as a pilot project.
A meeting was held on Tuesday at the Secretariat with officials from the Transport and Panchayat Raj and Rural Development departments. Panchayat Raj Minister Sitakka and Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar discussed how the new scheme would be implemented. In the first phase, the plan will be launched in two districts: Mahbubnagar, which is the home district of Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, and Karimnagar, the district of the Transport Minister. Around 100 to 150 buses will be purchased through the SHGs.
A separate system will be created to manage these buses, which will be leased to the RTC. The government will make the final decision on the project after reviewing a detailed report. This report will include information on the cost of purchasing the buses, how much revenue the scheme could generate, and other management expenses.
