The coalition government has taken a special action plan for the welfare of women in self-help groups. In addition to providing large loans to the members of these groups, it is taking steps to make them financially self-reliant. This time, the loan plan is being prepared innovatively to further improve the living standards of Dwcra women.
In the past, high-level goals were set and loan plans were prepared accordingly. After Karuna Vakati took charge as the CEO of SERP, it was decided that the loan plan should reflect the field-level needs of about 89 lakh Dwcra women in the state.
To this end, 1.25 lakh educated members from the groups across the state are being selected as enumerators and loan plans are being prepared. As part of this, they have been provided special training on financial affairs and digital literacy.
Over the past two weeks, each enumerator has contacted four to five groups. The professional information of the members, the income and expenses of their family members, and other details were collected through the app.
Also, details like the loans they have received, the amount of debt they still have to pay, the financial needs of their families, and the amount of loan required by self-employed units to increase their livelihood have been collected and incorporated in the Annual and Economic Livelihood Action Plan 2025-26 app.
These are being taken as a standard and a loan plan is being prepared. Women’s income is likely to increase by investing in the right livelihoods. Bank loans will increase the living standards of members and their children will get good education, medical facilities and other facilities.
This will give the members of these groups a complete understanding of loan management, timely payments, and loan planning. Sustainable livelihoods will be achieved by linking with the agriculture, industries, animal husbandry, and handloom sectors. Also, trust will increase between self-help groups and financial institutions and there will be a possibility of getting loans in large quantities.
Meanwhile, the use of drones in agriculture, organic farming, mini rice mills, cereal-based industries, and cereal cultivation will be encouraged. These will be implemented mainly in Chittoor, Kurnool, Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam, Srikakulam, ASR, Tirupati, Kadapa, Prakasam, Sathya Sai and Anantapur districts.