AP Renews Commitment to Gender Equity with Gender Budget

Andhra Pradesh Government Unveils Rs.90,859.54 Crore Gender Budget for 2026-27

The Andhra Pradesh government has reaffirmed its commitment to gender equity with the unveiling of the Gender Budget Statement 2026–27, allocating a massive Rs.90,859.54 crore towards schemes benefiting women and girls.

Key Highlights of the Gender Budget

• Part-A Schemes: Rs.19,496.47 crore earmarked for exclusively women and girls-focused initiatives
• Part-B Schemes: Rs.71,363.07 crore allocated, with 30-99% benefiting women

Women-Centric Flagship Initiatives

• Thalliki Vandanam: Rs.15,000 per child (Class I to Intermediate) routed to mothers across BC, SC, ST, EWS, and minority communities
• Subsidy on Domestic LPG (Deepam-2): Three free cylinders annually to eligible women
• Stree Shakti Scheme: Free bus travel for women
• ASHA Workers: 42,752 workers to receive a monthly honorarium of Rs.10,000, along with gratuity benefits
• Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana: Rs.5,000 for the first child and Rs.6,000 for the second girl child

Women’s Safety and Empowerment

• Women Help Desks: Set up in police stations
• Anti-Human Trafficking Units: Established to prevent trafficking
• Cyber Crime Prevention Against Women and Children (CCPWC): Units set up to prevent cybercrime
• 164 Shakthi Teams: Established to strengthen women’s safety
• Mahila Police Stations: Upgraded to enhance women’s safety
• One-Stop Centres: 26 functional centres, with additional centres sanctioned

Housing Support and Protection

• PMAY (Urban and Gramin) and NTR Housing Schemes: Prioritise women beneficiaries
• Mission Shakti Components: Include Shakti Sadan shelters, Sakhi Niwas working women’s hostels, Women’s Helpline (181), and Nari Adalats

Women’s Participation in Key Sectors

• Agriculture: Krishionnati Yojana, RKVY, and PMFBY
• Education: Samagra Shiksha, PM SHRI schools, and Dokka Seethamma mid-day meals
• Health: 108 ambulance services and RCH programmes
• Social Security: NTR Bharosa pensions across departments

Minister for women and child welfare, Gummidi Sandhya Rani, said the gender budget reflects a structured and institutional push to make women equal stakeholders in development.