Hyderabad, March 5 -- In a first-of-its-kind initiative in India, women's self-help groups in Telangana are set to play an active role in public transportation through a unique partnership with the Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TGSRTC). As part of the scheme, 150 Mandal Mahila Samakhyas (MMS) will lease buses to the corporation, to ensure a steady source of income for them.

The initiative will be officially launched on March 8 at Parade Ground, Hyderabad, as part of the Indira Mahila Shakti-2025 event.

According to a government order issued by the Panchayat Raj and Rural Development Department, the first phase of the initiative will cover the erstwhile districts of Mahabubnagar, Khammam, Warangal, and Karimnagar. Financial...