On 30th anniversary of his first swearing-in, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu’s welfare and empowerment initiatives highlighted at Gajuwaka ‘Stree Shakti' programme — by TDP State president & MLA Gajuwaka Palla Srinivasa Rao*

 

                 by Sharma K.V . Editor
Visakhapatnam, September 1, 2025* The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) State president and Gajuwaka legislator, Palla Srinivasa Rao, on Monday recalled Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu’s three-decade-long commitment to women’s empowerment and social welfare, describing it as the hallmark of his governance since first assuming office in 1995.

Speaking at the “Stree Shakti – Super Six, Super Hit” programme organised at Jaggu Junction in Gajuwaka, Mr. Srinivasa Rao noted that September 1 carried a special significance: it was on this very day, 30 years ago, that Mr. Naidu was sworn in as Chief Minister for the first time. “From that moment till today, women’s empowerment and welfare have remained at the centre of his vision,” he said

He traced the roots of this commitment to the late N.T. Rama Rao, who as Chief Minister laid the foundation for gender equality by granting women equal property rights and launching transformative schemes such as rice at ₹2 a kg. Mr. Naidu, he added, had carried that legacy forward with renewed vigour, particularly through the establishment of DWCRA groups that offered women a path to financial independence.

The Stree Shakti scheme has further strengthened women’s confidence and self-reliance, while the free bus travel initiative has brought relief to lakhs of schoolgirls, working women, petty traders, and daily wage earners. He has consistently shown that true social progress lies in ensuring education, employment, and financial independence for the girl child,” Mr. Srinivasa Rao observed.

Citing Mr. Naidu’s foresight in the 1990s, when an LPG connection was still regarded as a luxury, he recalled how the Deepam scheme provided ten lakh free gas connections to households, sparing women the health hazards of smoke-filled kitchens. “That initiative has now evolved into Deepam-2, which provides free gas cylinders, reaffirming the government’s commitment to household welfare,” he said.

The TDP State president stressed that successive measures had consistently prioritised women’s dignity and empowerment. These included pensions for widows, the Talliki Vandhanam programme to honour mothers, and targeted initiatives for the welfare of the girl child.

Turning to the Anganwadi system, he pointed out that long-standing neglect had been corrected, with significant improvements in facilities and salary hikes from ₹4,200 to ₹10,500 for workers, alongside enhanced pay for helpers. The introduction of gratuity, reduction of workload through new mobile devices, and provision of upgraded phones were further steps aimed at supporting grassroots workers, he added.

Highlighting the establishment of exclusive engineering colleges for women, Mr. Srinivasa Rao said the initiative ensured equal opportunities in higher education. “These measures are not symbolic. They reflect the Telugu Desam Party’s deep respect for women and its enduring commitment to their empowerment. That commitment, I can say with certainty, will remain unwavering,” he affirmed.