President Droupadi Murmu and CM Chandrababu Naidu Inaugurate National Saras Mela in Vijayawada

Women should progress beyond becoming Lakhpati Didis to Crorepati Didis:Droupadi Murmu

Chief Minister urge women to move beyond seeking employment and become job creators

Swayam AP brand promoted to bring national and international recognition for products manufactured by women

Saras Mela should pave way for year-round market opportunities for products made by rural women:CM

Vijayawada: President of India Droupadi Murmu stated that women should progress beyond becoming ‘Lakhpati Didis’ to ‘Crorepati Didis’. She urged governments to ensure that women had access to more resources, opportunities and support to establish and expand women-led enterprises under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana–National Rural Livelihoods Mission for Women to Become ‘Crorepati Didis’.
Inaugurating National Saras Mela 2026 being organised for first time out of Delhi in Vijayawada today, the President welcomed the organisation of the event in Vijayawada during the Sharannavaratri festivities at the Kanaka Durga temple. She appreciated the Union Ministry of Rural Development for organising the national-level Saras Mela outside Delhi for the first time.The President also congratulated Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu for hosting the event in Vijayawada, bringing together self-help group women from across the country.
The President hoped the event would achieve its objectives and create further opportunities for women across the country.
Speaking on the occasion Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu said the State Government had introduced the ‘Swayam AP’ brand to bring national and international recognition to products manufactured by rural women. He stated that the government’s objective was to transform women into wealth creators.The Chief Minister announced that one lakh self-help group (SHG) members had emerged as women entrepreneurs in Andhra Pradesh over the past year, and the government aimed to empower another five lakh women to become entrepreneurs.He thanked President Droupadi Murmu for inaugurating the National Saras Mela 2026, being organised for the first time in Vijayawada. He said holding the national-level event during the auspicious Sharannavaratri festivities had added to the significance of the city.
Describing President Murmu’s life as an inspiration to every girl, Chandrababu Naidu said she had risen from a humble background in a remote tribal region to the highest constitutional office in the country after overcoming numerous challenges. Her journey demonstrated that women could scale great heights through determination and courage, he added.
The Chief Minister said 650 self-help groups were participating in the National Saras Mela. He emphasised that the event should not remain merely a 14-day exhibition but should pave the way for year-round market opportunities for products made by rural women.Increasing women’s incomes, encouraging women entrepreneurs and securing national recognition for rural products were the key objectives of the mela, he said. He urged women from different parts of the country to exchange experiences, learn from one another’s success stories and explore new business opportunities. Chandrababu Naidu said Andhra Pradesh had 11 lakh self-help groups with 1.10 crore members, collectively recording a turnover of ₹69,000 crore. Products manufactured by these groups were reaching an estimated 3.5 crore people, he added.
The Chief Minister urged women to move beyond seeking employment and become job creators. He said rural women’s products would be marketed under the Swayam AP brand through e-commerce and online shopping platforms.He encouraged women to use social media platforms such as WhatsApp and Instagram to expand their businesses. Strengthening supply chains to connect rural markets with global markets was essential to ensure wider reach for women’s products, he said.Chandrababu Naidu stressed that the goal of Viksit Bharat could be achieved only by fully harnessing women’s potential.
The Chief Minister said the government was implementing measures to ensure women’s economic independence while extending support through welfare schemes.
The Chief Minister expressed hope that every self-help group would become a small economic powerhouse, every woman would emerge as an entrepreneur, and every village would develop into an employment hub.Calling for collective efforts to achieve the Swarna Andhra vision, he emphasised the importance of women’s safety, dignity and empowerment. He also urged family members to encourage women and support them in fulfilling their dreams.