AP CM Chandrababu showcases support for women entrepreneurs

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Thursday visited the SARAS Exhibition – All India DWCRA Bazaar, being held on the outskirts of Guntur, and reiterated the State government’s commitment to women-led economic empowerment. The exhibition, organized under the Sale of Rural Artisans Society (SARAS) initiative, has brought together self-help group (SHG) women, artisans and entrepreneurs from across the country.

During the visit, the Chief Minister personally toured the stalls set up by DWCRA women, interacting with participants and examining a wide range of products, including handicrafts, handlooms, traditional food items and locally made consumer goods. At one stall, Chandrababu Naidu sampled the popular Madugula halwa and lauded its taste, drawing visible delight from the women entrepreneurs who prepared it. He later reviewed several other stalls, accompanied by Union Minister Pemmasani Chandrasekhar, State MSME and SERP Minister Kondapalli Srinivas, local MLA Madhavi and Guntur District Collector Tameem Ansaria.

Addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister said DWCRA and MEPMA self-help groups had created a nationwide model for women’s financial inclusion. “We formed self-help groups to ensure economic self-reliance for women. Today, millions of women are achieving financial stability through disciplined savings and enterprise,” he said. He described the SARAS exhibition as a “mini India”, showcasing the diversity of cultures, crafts and cuisines from different States.

Highlighting the scale of women’s participation in Andhra Pradesh, Chandrababu Naidu said the State has around 80 lakh women in DWCRA groups and another 24 lakh under MEPMA. Collectively, women have mobilized nearly ₹26,000 crore in funds, demonstrating their potential to run large-scale enterprises if supported with proper marketing and branding. He noted that 93,000 women had already emerged as micro, MSME and small entrepreneurs, with the government rolling out dedicated programmes to further expand women-led entrepreneurship.

As part of the event, the Chief Minister handed over a cheque of ₹1,375 crore from Stree Nidhi Credit Cooperative Federation Limited to SHGs as loans, in addition to ₹2,171 crore released through SERP. He also outlined welfare initiatives such as free bus travel for women, subsidized LPG cylinders under Deepam 2.0, financial assistance through the ‘Talli Ki Vandanam’ programme, and the ‘One Family-One Entrepreneur’ policy. The SARAS Mela, spread across 12 acres with around 300 stalls, over 60 of them from other States, will run from January 8 to 18. With Guntur chilli chosen as the event’s mascot, the fair is expected to draw large crowds during the Sankranti season, featuring cultural programs, food courts and an amusement park, reinforcing Guntur’s image as a vibrant hub of rural enterprise and culture.