COWE AP President Yarlagadda Geetha Sreekanth

COWE Andhra Pradesh Chapter – A New Chapter in Women’s Empowerment

Vijayawada, April 10, 2025 – The Confederation of Women Entrepreneurs of India (COWE), Andhra Pradesh Chapter, held its official swearing-in ceremony for the newly elected executive body at Minerva Grand, Vijayawada. The event, graced by dignitaries and women entrepreneurs across the state, highlighted the organization’s unwavering commitment to empowering women and aligning its mission with Swarnandhra 2047.

Presided over by COWE National Secretary Mrs. Aparna and Joint Secretary Mrs. Radhika, the event marked the beginning of a new leadership team taking charge to further the vision of creating at least one entrepreneur from every household. Speaking on the occasion, State Commissioner for Handlooms and Textiles, Mrs. Rekha Rani, applauded COWE's continuous efforts towards empowering women through enterprise. She described the AP Chapter’s vision as far-sighted and commended it for becoming a trusted platform for aspiring women entrepreneurs.

The Commissioner announced that the government would actively support COWE’s proposal to issue health cards for women handloom workers. She revealed initiatives under Swachhandhra, including the use of leftover cloth from handloom and tailoring units to make eco-friendly bags. The government is offering subsidies on the purchase of equipment and raw materials for these initiatives.

She also emphasized the importance of educating COWE members about various government schemes and subsidies to ensure they are utilized effectively. She noted that handloom and textile sectors will gain further prominence in the future and expressed interest in supporting the development of handloom clusters through COWE’s outreach.

A novel initiative, “Cheneta Ratham,” was also introduced. Under this program, products made by weavers will be sold directly in neighborhoods and apartment complexes via mobile vans, offering a low-investment, high-return model. The government is backing the project, and early interest from both producers and sellers has been encouraging.

Rekha Rani stressed that empowerment begins with self-care. “Women often neglect their health in their pursuit of family and business goals. It's essential that every woman makes time for herself so she can truly become a pillar of strength for her family and community,” she said.

In her acceptance speech, newly appointed COWE AP President, Mrs. Yarlagadda Geetha Sreekanth, shared the organization’s goal of developing women entrepreneurs across all districts of Andhra Pradesh. “We are committed to Chief Minister’s vision of seeing an entrepreneur emerge from every household,” she said. She announced the formation of training camps in rural and tribal areas to promote enterprise development.

She also spoke about the flagship “Paustik” initiative, through which over 2000 women have been trained in millet-based product manufacturing across the state—offering them sustainable self-employment opportunities.

Mrs. Geetha added that incubation centers are being established in various colleges in collaboration with educational institutions to nurture business interest and skills among young women students. “When a woman progresses financially, she uplifts not only her family but also contributes to the growth of society,” she said.

The event was attended by MSME Executive Director Mr. Sudarshan Babu, NABARD Deputy General Manager Mr. Murari Mohan Behra, and AP Chamber President Mr. Potluri Bhaskar Rao. All pledged continued collaboration with COWE to facilitate skill development and business growth for women across Andhra Pradesh