Latest news with #MEPMA
The Hindu
2 days ago
- Business
- The Hindu
Andhra Pradesh launches ‘Digi-Lakshmi' scheme to empower urban poor women
The Government of Andhra Pradesh has launched the 'Digi-Lakshmi' scheme to digitally empower urban poor women by establishing 9,034 Common Service Centres (CSCs) across all Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) in the State. The G.O. MS. No. 117 in this regard was issued by S. Suresh Kumar, Principal Secretary, Municipal Administration and Urban Development (MA&UD) on Monday (June 30, 2025). These Common Service Centres will be managed by eligible Self-Help Group (SHG) women and are part of the government's 'One Family, One Entrepreneur' (OF-OE) vision aimed at transitioning SHGs into Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). Each centre, designed as a standardised 'ATOM Kiosk', will offer around 250 public services. The scheme mandates that Digi-Lakshmi operators be SHG members with at least three years of active involvement, aged between 21 and 40 years, married, settled in their operational areas, and hold a graduate degree with technical aptitude. The G.O. authorised the Mission Director of MEPMA to execute the programme. The MEPMA will facilitate training and financial support, enabling women to secure loans of ₹2 to ₹2.5 lakh to establish their centres.
New Indian Express
4 days ago
- Health
- New Indian Express
Prevent disease outbreak, Andhra Pradesh CM Naidu directs officials
VIJAYAWADA: With the onset of monsoon, Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu stressed the need to prevent disease outbreak, directing officials to ensure effective drainage, clean surroundings, and safe drinking water. On Saturday, he held a comprehensive review with senior officials from the Municipal Administration and Finance Departments. The meeting focused on solid waste management, infrastructure creation, and the progress of initiatives under the Mission for Elimination of Poverty in Municipal Areas (MEPMA). Highlighting women's empowerment, Naidu directed MEPMA officials to enhance product quality through continuous training for self-help groups (SHGs) and to promote DWCRA (Development of Women and Children in Rural Areas) products via e-commerce. He urged the creation of systems for municipalities and corporations to generate their own electricity for street lighting, alongside efforts to conserve energy and improve air quality. Expressing concern over poultry waste being dumped in urban areas, he called for a special policy and advocated circular economy practices in waste disposal. Naidu called for the swift completion of sewage treatment plants (STPs) and the elimination of legacy waste, while establishing systems for regular garbage collection.
Hans India
15-06-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Rapido e-bikes distributed to SHG members
Anantapur: In a pioneering initiative aimed at empowering women, Rapido e-bikes were distributed to Self-Help Group (SHG) women members for the first time in India. The programme was launched under the aegis of MEPMA (Mission for Elimination of Poverty in Municipal Areas). The launch event was held at the Police Parade Grounds in Anantapur, and was formally inaugurated by MLA Daggubati and District Collector Dr Vinod Kumar V in the presence of MEPMA and municipal officials. As part ofthe scheme, 250 Rapido e-bikes have been sanctioned for Anantapur district. In the first phase, 20 e-bikes were distributed to selected women beneficiaries. 'This is an innovative step towards enablingwomen to achieve self-employment,' said MLA Daggubati while addressing the gathering. He added that Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu launched this programme as a pro-women initiative, firmly committed to women's empowerment. Referring to the 'Thalliki Vandhanam' scheme, the MLA highlighted that: 'Under this scheme, a financial aid of ₹15,000 has been provided to every eligible household, unlike the previous regime which promised to give to all but delivered to only one person per family.' He emphasized that the government is implementing the scheme sincerely with a commitment of ₹10,000 crore and expressed special thanks to Naidu and Minister Nara Lokesh for their dedication and support to women'swelfare.
New Indian Express
09-06-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
MEPMA bags 9 SKOCH Platinum Awards for initiatives to end poverty
VIJAYAWADA: The Mission for Elimination of Poverty in Municipal Areas (MEPMA), under the Government of Andhra Pradesh, has achieved national recognition by winning nine SKOCH Platinum Awards for its exemplary work in urban poverty alleviation. The SKOCH Awards, among India's most prestigious independent honours, acknowledged MEPMA's innovative, inclusive, and impactful initiatives that have significantly improved the lives of vulnerable urban communities. Of the 14 projects submitted by MEPMA, nine were selected for Platinum honours following a rigorous evaluation process comprising peer review, board assessment, public voting, and expert panel scrutiny. The recognition is seen as a milestone in Andhra Pradesh's commitment to inclusive urban development, especially in empowering self-help groups (SHGs), urban homeless, street vendors, and marginalised occupational communities. The awarded projects span a wide range of focus areas including housing for the urban homeless, financial inclusion of SHG members, digital livelihood tracking, e-commerce for women entrepreneurs, skill development, gig economy participation, and structured support for street vendors and vulnerable groups. MEPMA's strategic and community-driven approach has emerged as a model for other states to follow. Mission Director N Tej Bharath credited the leadership of Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu and Municipal Adminstration and Urban Development (MA&UD) Minister P Narayana for their support, and thanked Principal Secretary S Suresh Kumar and CM's Secretary Pradyumna for their guidance. The SKOCH Awards will be officially presented during the SKOCH Summit in New Delhi on September 20, 2025.
Hans India
09-06-2025
- Business
- Hans India
MEPMA bags 9 prestigious SKOCH Awards
Guntur: Mission for Elimination of Poverty in Municipal Areas (MEPMA) , Government of AP, was honoured with the prestigious SKOCH Platinum Awards for its exemplary performance in activities towards urban poverty alleviation. The MEPMA has been conferred with nine SKOCH Platinum Awards for its exemplary contribution to Urban Poverty Alleviation. This prestigious honour recognises MEPMA's innovative and impactful initiatives, which have transformed the lives of urban communities across AP and have set a benchmark for other States to emulate. The awards will be presented at a grand awards ceremony to be held in New Delhi as a part of the SKOCH Summit on September 20. Out of 14 projects submitted by MEPMA, nine projects have received the prestigious award after passing through a multi-stage scrutiny process. The nine award-winning initiatives recognised by SKOCH include: Nivasam, Web & App based IT platform for providing safe and secure housing for the urban homeless. Livelihood tracker: Leveraging technology for monitoring and enhancing livelihoods, bank linkage scheme, empowering SHG women through E-Commerce, linkage with ONDC & Non ONDC platforms, empowering urban SHGs via skill and gig economy. MEPMA Mission director N Tej Barath expressed his gratitude to the Government of AP. He emphasised that this recognition reinforces MEPMA's resolve to continue its mission of eradicating urban poverty and building resilient communities.
