Rice Mills for Women: Telangana Government to Allot Rice Mills to Women Self Help Groups

Rice Mills for Women: The Telangana government has announced another major initiative aimed at strengthening women led enterprises by planning to allot rice mills to women self help groups across the state. The move is expected to create sustainable livelihoods while expanding women’s role in the rural economy.

Revenue and Housing Minister Ponguleti Srinivasa Reddy said the pilot project will begin in Nelakondapalli mandal of Khammam district before being expanded to other parts of Telangana. The announcement was made during his visit to several development projects in the district.

According to the minister, the government wants women self help groups to play a bigger role in the agricultural value chain. Under the proposed model, paddy procured from farmers will be processed into quality rice at mills operated by women groups before being marketed through an integrated system.

The government has already entrusted women groups with managing petrol pumps, Indiramma canteens and RTC bus operations in different parts of the state. The proposed rice mill initiative is expected to further strengthen women’s participation in business and entrepreneurship.

Minister Ponguleti said the government’s long term vision is to economically empower nearly one crore women over the next five years. He said every welfare and development programme is being designed with a strong focus on increasing income generating opportunities for women.

Officials believe the establishment of rice mills will generate local employment, improve value addition in agriculture and reduce the dependence on middlemen. The initiative is also expected to encourage rural women to emerge as successful entrepreneurs while contributing to the state’s economic growth.

Earlier in the day, the minister inspected arrangements for the upcoming Rythu Ashirvada Sabha scheduled in Chinthakani mandal and inaugurated several development works in Nelakondapalli. He urged women self help groups to make full use of the opportunities being created through the new scheme.