Govt committed to empower women: CM

Hyderabad, Nov 22 (UNI) Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy today said his government was fully committed to empower members of Women Self Help Groups (SHG), who were ushering in a ''silent revolution'' in the country.

Addressing the SHG members at a meeting organised by the Jayachandra Trust floated by Congress leader D R Sudhir Reddy here, he said, ''My Government will leave no stone unturned to see a smile on the faces of women as directed by the Congress President and United Progressive Alliance Chairperson Sonia Gandhi.'' He said his Government targetted to make one crore women members of SHGs earn in lakhs and claimed that the highest number of women SHGs were in the state.

He said the quantum of bank linkage had increased several fold to Rs 11,500 crore for one crore SHG members now from a mere Rs 700 crore for 50 lakh SHG members during the previous TDP regime.

Actor and noted social worker Jayasudha said she joined the Congress as she was impressed with its series of welfare schemes and developmental projects for various sections of people, including women.

UNI SM VA AKM JT UCS1717