Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has commended the success of “She Leads Andhra” pilot project implemented in Kuppam Assembly Constituency. The project enabled 93 rural SHG women to generate ₹15 lakh in business in just 90 days through digital commerce, said Project Director, Kuppam Area Development Authority (KADA), Vikar Marmat.
Speaking to the media here on Sunday (August 3, 2025), the official said that the initiative, led by Frontier Markets in partnership with the Kuppam Area Development Authority (KADA), leverages AI-driven ‘Meri Saheli App’ to equip rural women with the tools to become digitally enabled storefront owners.
Based on the success of the pilot project, the Chief Minister announced an action plan to expand the project across the State. While the first phase of the project targeted 30,000 women in Chittoor district, the scheme is expected to cover over one lakh women across Andhra Pradesh during a three-year action plan, covering 50 lakh households, Mr. Marmat added.
The project replicated the proven success of Frontier Markets’ national model “She Leads Bharat Udyam,” which has already empowered over 15,000 women in Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh.
It may be mentioned here that during Mr. Naidu’s recent visit to Kuppam, he held an interactive session with the women beneficiaries and received inputs first-hand from the grassroots level as how the model changed the landscape of rural living conditions, particularly the women, through linkage with 200-plus market partners, coupled with doorstep delivery in tier-5 and tier-6 villages.
The project took shape after Frontier Markets Founder Ajaita Shah and Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu’s meeting at the World Economic Forum in Davos. The initiative was later recognised by Prime Minister Narendra Modi as an effective move towards empowering rural women by grounding the strategic technology-enabled commerce modules, Mr. Marmat said.
Published – August 03, 2025 08:17 pm IST
