Telangana’s Women Entrepreneurs Form ALETS

The bifurcation of AP meant that Telangana has now got it’s own association of lady entrepreneurs. Association of Lady Entrepreneurs of Telangana State (ALETS) was launched on Saturday by a group of successful entrepreneurs in the state to empower women.

“Women, especially those in rural areas, are very industrious and have a lot of ideas. We will go and give them guidance in business planning, capacity building, marketing awareness through linkages,” said M Sarita Reddy, founder-president of ALETS.

Earlier, there was an Association of Lady Entrepreneurs of Andhra Pradesh (ALEAP) established in 1993.  That group which is based in Yousufguda, Hyderabad has already started limiting it’s activities to residuary AP.

The lady entrepreneur associations work with the mission to leverage entrepreneurship development and to achieve economic growth for women. They work to empower & facilitate the development of dynamic women entrepreneurs, by strengthening their entrepreneurial capacities, and support growth of MSMEs in the formal and informal sectors.

“When we use the word start-up, the first thing that comes to mind is money. However, we feel counselling is more important,” she said.  Apart from helping women establish their own start-ups, the association also assists them in conducting various exhibitions to showcase their talents.

Sarita remarked, “We will also establish different incubation centres for women entrepreneurs in the future. Formation of Telangana is a sixty year old dream. Women are the foundation of developing State. Hence, there is a need for a common platform to empower women in the state.”

“While many students are graduating from engineering and other degree colleges these days, it is impossible for all of them to get jobs. Therefore, entrepreneurship is one of the most affordable options for the pass-outs who have great ideas in mind,” she opined.