The Telangana state government has announced that another 448 rented buses will be added to the State-owned Road Transport Corporation fleet, to be operated by women self-help groups (SHGs). The decision was announced jointly by Transport Minister P Prabhakar and Women Development Minister D. Anasuya Seethakka as part of the measures being taken to empower women and strengthen their financial stability. The ministers said the decision will not only provide financial empowerment to the women-SHG groups but also make rural women directly participate in the public transport system. The minister said the government was advancing this programme to ensure sustainable income sources for women under the Indira Mahila Shakti Scheme. Each bus generates rental income of about 70 thousand rupees per month, which can become crucial for the economic self-reliance of rural women. Given the successful operation of 152 RTC rented buses run by SHGs currently, the government has decided to extend the programme.