Amaravati, March 8 (NationPress) The Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, N. Chandrababu Naidu, declared on Sunday that the state aims to nurture five lakh women entrepreneurs. He noted that within a year, one lakh women have already embarked on their entrepreneurial journeys and expressed optimism that Andhra Pradesh will soon reach a total of six lakh women entrepreneurs, marking it as the highest in the nation.

During the International Women's Day festivities held at the Amaravati Parade Grounds, he emphasized the need for one MSME (Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises) from each household, with half of these enterprises being led by women.

The Chief Minister introduced the ‘Swayam AP’ logo, designed to promote products from self-help groups.

He also honored five exemplary women entrepreneurs and presented a cheque amounting to Rs 10,100 crore in subsidized loans, benefitting 6,81,506 women across various sectors.

In his greetings to women on this special day, he acknowledged their attributes of hard work, love, and sacrifice.

Naidu pointed out that the state Cabinet comprises three women ministers who are making significant contributions. He noted that the President of India is a tribal woman, and the Union Finance Minister effectively presents the national budget each year.

“Women are indeed the true Finance Ministers, as they manage household finances prudently and ensure every rupee is utilized wisely,” he remarked.

He reminisced about N.T. Rama Rao, the first leader to advocate for women's rights, who granted equal property rights and established Padmavathi University to uplift women's education while providing an eight percent reservation for women in local governance.

The Chief Minister also reflected on his own initiatives, including a 33 percent reservation for women in colleges and jobs, with plans for similar representation in legislatures.

He highlighted the success of the DWCRA and MEPMA systems he established, which have become role models nationally, asserting that despite challenges faced by many institutions, these systems remain robust.

Through the ‘Stree Shakti’ scheme, he announced the introduction of free bus travel for women and committed to enhancing the Swayam brand into a globally recognized name.

Naidu emphasized the importance of joint families as a cornerstone of Indian society, urging that minor disputes should not lead to family separations over ration or pension benefits, as the elderly population is increasingly left alone.

Ministers V. Anita, Savitha, Sandhya Rani, and Kandula Durgesh, along with MLA Shravan and BJP state President P.V.N. Madhav, attended the event.