Sun Nov 17 00:37:04 UTC 2024: **Andhra Pradesh Government Boosts DWACRA Women’s Groups with Digital Marketing Initiative**
Srikakulam, Andhra Pradesh: The Andhra Pradesh state government has launched an initiative to revitalize DWACRA (Development of Women and Children in Rural Areas) self-help groups, which had suffered from neglect under the previous YSR Congress Party administration. The initiative focuses on empowering women by providing marketing support for their products and fostering their growth as entrepreneurs.
The program, spearheaded by the Rural Poverty Eradication Programme (SERP), aims to provide access to zero-interest loans through banks and facilitate online marketing via the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) platform. This allows women to sell their products directly to consumers online, expanding their reach beyond local markets.
Over 49,100 DWACRA groups, comprising 559,708 women, across 30 mandals are benefiting from the program. The government aims to provide ₹1,821.94 crore in bank loans to 36,133 groups in the 2024-25 financial year. Already, ₹538.03 crore has been disbursed to 9,847 groups.
The initiative includes training programs to enhance the digital literacy and marketing skills of DWACRA members. Currently, 106 different products from 34 village groups are being sold through the ONDC platform, with orders already being received. Local women have expressed enthusiasm, noting an increase in sales and wider market access. The government is optimistic about the program’s potential to significantly improve the economic prospects of women in rural areas.
First Piper 