Andhra Pradesh: Swachhata Udyami Yojana Transforms Life of Komaragiri Ankamma, Providing Financial Security

Ms. Komaragiri Ankamma, a 45-year-old resident of Guntur district in Andhra Pradesh, spent 25 years of her life working as a waste picker. Belonging to the Scheduled Tribe community, Ms. Ankamma began this work in her childhood alongside her parents, as her family was unable to afford the costs of her education. Due to social discrimination and limited income, meeting basic needs and saving for emergencies was a significant challenge for her family. Working six days a week, she used to earn approximately 150 to 200 rupees per day.

A turning point came for Ms. Ankamma on June 19, 2023, when she received assistance through the Navjeevan Institute under the Swachhata Udyami Yojana (SUY). She became part of a group project consisting of five members. The total cost of this entire project was 49,96,925 rupees, which included a loan of 31,22,695 rupees and an advance capital subsidy of 18,74,230 rupees.

Following this financial support, Ms. Ankamma's economic situation has seen a remarkable improvement. According to case records, her monthly income, which was previously around 8,000 rupees, has now increased to 18,000 rupees. This additional monthly income of approximately 10,000 rupees has enabled her to strengthen her family's financial security and save for the future.

Expressing her happiness, Ms. Ankamma stated, "The additional monthly income of nearly 10,000 rupees has helped me strengthen the financial security of my family."

This initiative by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment demonstrates that providing the waste-picking community with the right economic assistance and opportunities can bring stability and confidence to their livelihoods.