In a major welfare push ahead of National Handloom Day, the Andhra Pradesh Cabinet has approved several transformative initiatives aimed at empowering women, weavers, and small business owners, particularly those engaged in traditional occupations like hairdressing.

Among the most significant of these is the free bus travel scheme under the ‘Stree Shakti’ initiative, which will be rolled out on August 15. The measure is part of the State government’s Super Six election promises, aimed at inclusive growth and enhanced access to essential public services.

The free travel scheme will benefit more than 2.6 crore women, including girl students and transgender individuals, who will be able to travel without paying fares on buses operated by the Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC). This includes services such as Palle Velugu, Express, and Metro Express.

Speaking at a press conference at the Secretariat on Wednesday, I&PR Minister Kolusu Parthasarathy said that the move was a step toward financial and social empowerment of women, especially those from rural and low-income backgrounds.

“The scheme will allow women to travel free of cost on APSRTC buses. However, it will not apply to inter-State services, chartered buses, or package tours. Passengers will be required to carry a valid government-issued ID proof,” the Minister clarified.

This move is expected to reduce the transportation burden on lakhs of families and enhance access to education, employment, and healthcare for women across the State. The decision aligns with the larger goal of improving gender parity in public mobility.

Relief for Weavers and Nayee Brahmins

In addition to the bus scheme, the Cabinet also approved a ₹648.59 crore financial relief package for the weaver community, who have been grappling with income loss due to fluctuating market conditions and rising input costs. The support is designed to stabilise handloom operations and ensure sustainable income levels for traditional artisans.

The decision to roll out a relief package just ahead of National Handloom Day (August 7) demonstrates the government’s intent to preserve cultural heritage while boosting the rural economy.

Further, in a bid to support traditional small businesses, particularly those operated by the Nayee Brahmin community, the Cabinet has given its nod to a scheme offering 150–200 units of free electricity per month to around 40,808 registered hair-cutting saloons in the State.

This step is aimed at lowering operational costs, thus improving the economic viability of small salon businesses that are vital to semi-urban and rural service sectors.

Holistic Focus on Welfare

These initiatives reflect the Andhra Pradesh government's commitment to inclusive development, as promised during the election campaign. Each of these measures is rooted in targeted delivery and community-specific upliftment, from gender-sensitive mobility support to livelihood protection for artisans and small entrepreneurs.

By executing the Stree Shakti scheme on Independence Day, the government also intends to symbolically reinforce the idea of economic independence and dignity for women. With proper implementation and monitoring, this could set a precedent for other States to follow similar models of gender-responsive public policy.

Moreover, the scale of these schemes — impacting crores of women, thousands of weavers, and tens of thousands of barbers — showcases the State’s attempt to achieve broad-based socio-economic transformation through smart governance.

As the implementation date nears, all eyes will be on how efficiently these programs are rolled out and whether they succeed in meeting the expectations of the targeted beneficiaries.

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