Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy has announced plans to make one million women members of self-help groups (SHGs) financially independent by involving them in various business activities.

Speaking at the inauguration of ‘Indira Mahila Shakti Bazar’ in Hyderabad on Thursday, he said his government was implementing several schemes for the welfare of women.

Reddy highlighted initiatives like free travel for women in public buses, subsidized LPG cylinders for Rs 500, free electricity up to 200 units for the poor, stitching of uniforms for students and “Indira Mahila Shakti” canteens.

During his speech, Reddy highlighted that over 115 million women have benefited from the free bus initiative in the state.

The government is also allocating solar power plants to SHGs to improve their economic opportunities.

Currently, Telangana has 65 lakh SHG members, and the chief minister highlighted the target of expanding this to one crore. “It is your responsibility to make it a crore. It is my responsibility to make one crore (women) crorepatis,” he said.

Reddy added that he planned to visit all 33 districts of the state next year and hold meetings with one lakh women in each district. Governor Jishnu Dev Varma, present at the event, congratulated the SHG members and expressed hope that they would become leaders in the country.