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New Indian Express
18-05-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
One crore women to get ID cards with QR code in Telangana
HYDERABAD: Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy announced that the government will provide identity cards to one crore women with a unique number and QR code. He instructed officials to incorporate their financial and health conditions in those cards. He also directed the officials to prepare a database and build a health profile for women by conducting health tests. The government is committed to providing health security for women, he added. Reaffirming his government's commitment to making one crore women crorepathis, the chief minister expressed confidence that with one crore women votes, the Congress will come to power for the second time in the next elections. 'In the 2023 elections, I became chief minister with 92 lakh votes. If one crore women vote for the Congress, we can form the government for a second term,' he said. He launched WE Hub's Women Accelerator Programme here on Saturday. Addressing the gathering, he said that his government is strengthening Self Help Groups (SHGs) and accused the previous BRS regime of neglecting the SHGs. Asserting that the one trillion dollar target can be achieved when one crore women become crorepathis, Revanth said that his government is making efforts to raise the number of women members in SHGs to one crore from the current 67 lakh. He instructed the officials to conduct special drives in urban areas to enrol women in SHGs. Stating that the government's aim is to encourage women, he asserted that it is his responsibility to give incentives for women to do business. The government has given women responsibility to manage a 1,000 MW solar power project, stitch school uniforms, and other opportunities as part of efforts to encourage them in all fields, he stated, adding: 'There is a need for 10,000 MW of solar power. If you manage the 1,000 MW solar power project in an effective manner, the state government is ready to allocate another 1,000 MW project.' Lauding women for their financial discipline, Revanth explained: 'In the last 10 years, big corporate owners left the country after evading Rs 16,000 lakh loans from banks. The Central government has written off those loans. But last year, out of the Rs 21,000 crore given as loans to SHGs, not even one rupee was evaded by women, earning them the confidence of banks in their sincerity to repay loans.' Describing the free bus travel scheme for women in RTC buses as a gift from Sonia Gandhi, he said that the government has so far given Rs 5,200 crore to TGSRTC towards implementation of the scheme. On average each woman saved Rs 5,000 through this scheme, he added.
India Gazette
17-05-2025
- Business
- India Gazette
Telangana CM Revanth Reddy launches Women Acceleration Program
Hyderabad (Telangana) [India], May 17 (ANI): Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, the state's IT Minister, D Shridhar Babu, and Women & Child Welfare Minister, Danasari Anasuya Seethakka, launched a Women Acceleration Program (WAP) on Saturday. The program was launched under the Raising and Accelerating MSME Performance (RAMP), and Grassroot Youth Innovation Program (GYIP) implemented by WE Hub. The event took place JRC Convention Centre in Hyderabad, Telangana. The event also saw the exchange of 17 MoUs with premier institutions such as National Stock Exchange of India (NSE), National Institute of Fashion Technology, Hyderabad, and academia partners such as RGKUT Basara, Gitam University, Govt. Degree College, Godavarikhani and Peddapalli, Tara Degree College, Sangareddy, Mother Theresa Engineering College, and corporates such as HP India Sales Pvt. Ltd, HYSEA, Iconiya, TRD Studios, 1M1MB; and ecosystem partners such as Ag Hub, Nirmaan Foundation. The Women Acceleration Program, supported by the Ministry of MSME, Government of India, and the World Bank, is a flagship initiative under the national RAMP scheme. It aims to accelerate the business growth of around 140 existing women-led MSMEs across Telangana over the next two years. The newly introduced Grassroot Youth Innovation Program (GYIP) is designed to foster innovation and entrepreneurship among rural youth in Telangana. The program focuses on equipping young individuals with job readiness skills, mentorship, and hands-on experience, enabling them to become changemakers in their communities. The program will outreach over 6,000 students, 4,000 students to be sensitized, 1,500 to be onboarded onto iLEAP, and 500 to be onboarded to Campuspreneur program. Setting the context of the program at the event, Sanjay Kumar Sharma, IAS, Special Chief Secretary, ITE&C, said 'WAP has been designed with a core objective: to address the key bottlenecks that existing or growth-stage women entrepreneurs typically face while trying to scale their businesses. These challenges include limited access to markets, inadequate exposure to product innovation, and minimal investment readiness. The program seeks to bridge these gaps through comprehensive, hands-on support which will include - Capacity building & business management trainings; Product development & diversification; Machinery upgradation; Financial linkages and private investments; Market access and national & international outreach opportunities, etc. Appreciating WE Hub for its efforts to enable women entrepreneurs, Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, in his remarks, said, 'WE Hub has been at the forefront of empowering women entrepreneurs in Telangana. The launch of the Women Acceleration Program aligns seamlessly with our government's commitment to inclusive and women-centred development, as envisioned in the Indira Mahila Shakti Mission-2025. This Women Acceleration Program initiative is more than just a program; it is a movement to propel our women entrepreneurs to new heights of success.' In the event, Chief Minister Reddy also announced that WE Hub is setting up dedicated District 'Women Centres of Excellences' (CoEs) and 'Skill Development & Mini Manufacturing Hubs' in multiple districts and soon these Centres/hubs will be launched in Peddapalli, Nalgonda, Vikarabad, and Parakal soon and more Centres or Hubs are going to be set up shortly across districts in the state to decentralize access to entrepreneurship and skill development opportunities for women and youth. 'With these new initiatives--from the 'Skill Development and Mini Manufacturing Hubs' in Parkal to the Centres of Excellence in Peddapalli, Nalgonda, to Grassroot Youth Innovation Programs in Godavarikhani and Mulugu, and soon in Vikarabad--we are bringing opportunity right to our women's doorsteps,' he said. 'These are not just centres; they are engines of transformation. Whether it is starting a business, learning a new skill, or securing a livelihood, our women will no longer have to come to Hyderabad for support. We are building a future where every woman, no matter where she lives, has access to the resources, training, and confidence she needs to rise and lead.' IT Minister Babu added: 'Our women from rural Telangana have immense untapped potential. Through this program, we are not only unlocking access to capital, markets, and networks for women entrepreneurs, but also building a robust ecosystem where technology, training, and trust converge. With the right support, women can become powerful changemakers in their communities and beyond-and the WAP is a catalyst for that transformation.' WE Hub CEO, Sita Pallacholla, extended heartfelt thanks to Chief Minister and IT Minister for launching the Women Acceleration Program and for their unwavering support and motivation. 'This initiative stands as a testament to Telangana's progressive and consistent approach to making the state's entrepreneurship ecosystem more enabling and inclusive. By directly addressing the barriers women-led enterprises face, this program is not just fostering growth-it is setting a benchmark. We are confident that this model will inspire and be replicated across other states in India, driving systemic change in how women entrepreneurs are supported and scaled,' she remarked. The grand launch event witnessed the enthusiastic participation of over 1,000 women entrepreneurs from various districts across Telangana, alongside officials from government departments and key stakeholders from the entrepreneurial ecosystem. A highlight of the event was the exhibition where WE Hub-supported women entrepreneurs set up stalls to showcase their diverse range of products, reflecting the innovation and enterprise fostered through the program. (ANI)
The Hindu
17-05-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Telangana CM launches two programmes to support existing women-led enterprises, cultivate innovation among youth
To accelerate the growth of some 140 existing women-led MSMEs across Telangana, a Women Acceleration Program, supported by the Ministry of MSME and the World Bank, was launched by Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy in Hyderabad on Saturday (May 17, 2025). The Chief Minister reiterated the government's aim to empower one crore women to become millionaires. He spoke about how women from self help groups (SHG) pay back the loans with interest without a miss. A flagship initiative under the national RAMP scheme, the Women Acceleration Programme aims to strengthen the capabilities of women entrepreneurs to scale sustainably and enhance their competitiveness — enabling women to achieve economic autonomy, leadership in business, and long-term entrepreneurial success. This would be achieved through targeted capacity building, tailored mentorship, financial enablement, expanded market access and other methods, CEO of WE Hub Sita Pallacholla said. Besides, WE Hub's Grassroot Youth Innovation Program (GYIP) — designed to foster innovation and entrepreneurship among rural youth in the State — was launched by the Chief Minister. The program focuses on equipping young individuals with job readiness skills, mentorship, and hands-on experience, enabling them to become changemakers in their communities, WE HUB said in a release. The program will outreach over 6000 students, 4000 students to be sensitized, 1500 to be onboarded onto iLEAP, and 500 to be onboarded to Campuspreneur program. The iLEAP programs support students in the age of 17-23 years to explore new technology trends and experience advancement in their careers by mastering critical thinking, innovation, and leveraging advanced tools. While this focus on students in rural areas, WE Enable is being implemented for urban students to meet the objective, Ms. Sita explained.
New Indian Express
15-05-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
WE HUB: Where women work wonders
She is the kind of leader who leads with both heart and resolve, proving that true power lies in lifting others as you rise. A quiet force of determination, Sita Pallacholla blends strength with empathy. As the CEO of WE HUB — India's first and only state-led incubator for women entrepreneurs — she doesn't just break barriers, but builds pathways for others to follow. In an insightful conversation with CE, she reveals what WE HUB is doing for urban, rural, and tribal women, apart from giving much-needed entrepreneurship tips. Excerpts What inspired you to champion the cause of women entrepreneurs? My journey began in the trenches of entrepreneurship, where I learned the challenges of building from scratch and saw how unforgiving the system can be, especially for women. In 2011, after moving to Singapore, I connected with women leaders globally. Despite different geographies, the same roadblocks emerged — women were navigating a landscape not designed for them. In 2014, I launched The Angel Summit, a network bringing together women from various sectors. These conversations led to real outcomes: gender-forward policies, women-led incubators, and inclusive economic pathways. Today, I work at the intersection of technology, gender, and inclusive economics, building scalable systems to support women-led businesses, especially in emerging markets. At WE Hub, my mission is to ensure women not only enter the room but shape it. Can you highlight a few ongoing programmes catering to women in urban, rural, and tribal areas? At WE HUB, we don't believe a one-size-fits-all approach works when you're building for the next generation of women entrepreneurs and leaders. In the urban vertical, our work spans across education, early-stage entrepreneurship, and scale-up journeys. Three core programmes anchor this vertical: WE Enable: Focused on young women in colleges, this programme is about planting the seed early — building entrepreneurial thinking, industry exposure, and leadership skills to create career-ready women who don't just seek jobs, but create them. WE Engage: This is our flagship entrepreneurship programme, structured to meet women where they are in their startup journey. WE Elevate: This programme caters to growth-stage founders and MSMEs — providing targeted interventions, access to markets, mentors, and institutional investors. It's designed to support entrepreneurs ready to move from survival to scale. Our Social Impact & Entrepreneurship (SIE) vertical recognises that women in Tier-2, Tier-3, and tribal regions have different starting points. Here, we design programmes supporting women-led businesses across the entire entrepreneurial life cycle, from ideation to scale-up: WE Reach: A three-month pre-incubation programme providing skills in business management, financial, and digital literacy, concluding with Udyam registration support. Project Inclusion: A six-month incubation programme offering expert sessions, branding, financial linkages, and business registration support for MSMEs. WE Leads: A 10-month acceleration programme for growth-stage women-led MSMEs, focusing on revenue growth, market diversification, and national and international expansion. WE HUB is also setting up district-level Women Centres of Excellence (WCEs). The proposed districts are: Warangal, Hanumakonda, Peddapalli, and Nalgonda. These centres will serve as local hubs for empowering women by offering skill development training, entrepreneurial capacity building, and manufacturing support across various sectors.
