APMAS has empowered millions of women through SHG movement, says Governor

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Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla addressing the inaugural session of the two-day national conference on ‘Community-Led Pathways for Inclusive Growth’, organised by Andhra Pradesh Mahila Abhivruddhi Society at the Dr MCR HRD Institute, Hyderabad, on Wednesday. | Photo Credit: By Arrangement

Telangana Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla said the Self-Help Group (SHG) movement in India had evolved into one of the largest social development movements in the world, stating that women’s empowerment is the strongest foundation for building a developed and inclusive India.

Addressing the inaugural session of the two-day national conference on ‘Community-Led Pathways for Inclusive Growth’, organised as part of the Silver Jubilee celebrations of the Andhra Pradesh Mahila Abhivruddhi Society (APMAS) at the Dr MCR HRD Institute, Hyderabad, on Wednesday, the Governor commended APMAS for its 25-year journey in promoting community institutions and strengthening rural livelihoods.

He lauded APMAS for its sustained efforts in empowering women, farmers and rural communities, and for emerging as a model of community-driven development across the country.

The Governor said APMAS had played a significant role in strengthening women’s Self-Help Groups in the State by supporting more than six lakh SHGs, 23,000 federations and nearly 6.7 million women members. He also acknowledged the organisation’s contribution to the establishment of Stree Nidhi, a community-owned financial institution that has become a vital source of affordable credit for rural women.

The Governor further noted that APMAS is currently supporting 86 Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), benefiting nearly 40,000 small and marginal farmers by strengthening agricultural value chains and enhancing their livelihoods.

Earlier, Special Chief Secretary, Panchayat Raj and Rural Development, M. Dana Kishore, said that in an era marked by rapid advances in physical and digital connectivity, institutions such as APMAS must adopt innovative strategies t