Indira Mahila Shakti (Telangana)
Indira Mahila Shakti is the Telangana government's programme to make women in self-help groups into business owners. SHGs get interest-free bank loans of up to ₹10 lakh, and help to run businesses like canteens, RTC buses, petrol bunks and solar plants.
What is Indira Mahila Shakti?
Indira Mahila Shakti is the Telangana government's umbrella programme for women's self-help groups (SHGs). Its aim is to turn SHG women into entrepreneurs. The government has said it wants to give ₹1 lakh crore in interest-free loans to women's groups over five years and make one crore women "crorepatis."
Interest-free loans (Vaddi Leni Runalu)
- The state government pays the interest on bank loans taken by SHGs, so the loan is interest-free for the women.
- In May 2026 the limit was raised from ₹5 lakh to ₹10 lakh per SHG. About 63 lakh women in SHGs are expected to benefit.
- The group must repay the loan on time to keep getting the interest-free benefit.
Businesses run by women's groups
Under Indira Mahila Shakti, SHGs have been helped to run:
- Indira Mahila Shakti canteens
- RTC buses hired out to TGSRTC, with the hire charges paid to the women's groups
- Petrol bunks
- Solar power plants
- Dairy and poultry units, Mahila Marts and warehouses
Who can benefit?
- Women who are members of a self-help group in Telangana, in villages (SERP) or towns (MEPMA).
- SHGs that save regularly, keep records and repay loans on time.
How to join
- Join or form a self-help group through your village SHG leader, Village Organisation or Community Resource Person.
- In towns, contact the MEPMA staff at your municipality.
- Once your SHG is active, the group can apply for a bank loan through the SHG federation. The interest is reimbursed by the government.
- For business units like canteens or buses, watch for announcements from your district's DRDA/SERP office and apply through your federation.
Related: Lakhpati Didi (central support for SHG women)
Frequently asked questions
What is the interest-free loan limit for SHGs in Telangana?
Up to ₹10 lakh per SHG. The limit was raised from ₹5 lakh in May 2026, and the government pays the interest.
Who can get Indira Mahila Shakti benefits?
Women who are members of active self-help groups in Telangana, through SERP in villages and MEPMA in towns.
What businesses do women's groups run under Indira Mahila Shakti?
Canteens, RTC buses hired to TGSRTC, petrol bunks, solar plants, dairy and poultry units, Mahila Marts and warehouses.
Do individual women get the loan?
The loan goes to the self-help group, which lends to its members for income activities.
How do I join a self-help group in Telangana?
Contact your village SHG leader, Village Organisation or Community Resource Person, or the MEPMA office in your town.
Sources
- The Hans India: State raises interest-free loan limit for SHGs to ₹10 lakh (May 2026)
- Deccan Chronicle: ₹1 lakh crore interest-free loans to women's groups in five years
- Deccan Chronicle: Indira Mahila Shakti canteen launched in Hyderabad