The Telangana government has announced the last date for Christian minorities to apply for the free sewing machines scheme under the Telangana Minorities Finance Corporation (TGMFC) on January 20. The government plans to distribute the machines to unemployed women from minority communities of Muslim, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain and Parsi, who are trained in sewing, as promised under the Indira Mahila Shakti scheme.
Those with annual income below Rs 1.5 lakh in rural areas and Rs 2 lakh in urban areas are eligible to apply for free sewing machines.
The candidates can apply through the TGFMC official website.
It is pertinent to note that the government has closed the deadline for applications from other minority groups.
How to apply for free sewing machines in Telangana
How to apply for free sewing machines
The applicants can fill out an online application form, in which they would need to provide their Aadhaar details, Ration Card details, Caste Certificate, Passport size photo (mandatory) and tailor training certificate, if available.
The application can be done via mobile phones and computers, once all the certificates are available to the applicant.
Step-by-step instructions
- Open the online application form
- Enter Name, Aadhaar No
- Enter the Ration Card number or Food Security Card number
- If a ration card is not available, you can apply with an Income certificate, which can be obtained from MeeSeva centres or MRO offices
- Enter Father’s/ Husband’s name
- Enter Annual Income
- Enter Marital status and provide details
- Enter Mobile number
- Enter Religion
- If the candidate has done a government-approved tailor training, specify that.
- Enter the address as given in the Aadhaar card
- Attach photograph (mandatory) and tailor training certificate (if available)
- If the candidate is Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, or Parsi, attach a caste certificate.
Note: Muslim applicants do not have to upload any caste certificate - Click Submit after verification of the details added
- Print or download the filled-in application for the free sewing machines scheme in Telangana.
The selected applicants will be notified after being verified by the government.
Women in large numbers turn up at Haj House with applications
As the government began accepting applications under the scheme, women in large numbers began turning up at the Haj House with a hard copy of their applications. This was based on misinformation that candidates were to submit a copy of at the centre.
However, the district minority welfare officer, in Hyderabad, Ilyas Ahmed, stated that eligible candidates do not need to submit a hard copy of the application at any government office upon submission of the form online. “You do not need to come to the Haj House after applying online for the free sewing machines in Telangana scheme. You will receive a message on your mobile from the government upon selection,” said Ahmed.
‘Middlemen looting free sewing machine beneficiaries in Telangana’
Majlis Bachao Tehreek (MBT) leader Amjed Ullah Khan alleged that middlemen, and agents at Mandal Revenue (MRO) offices are extorting money from the women who are applying for the income certificate, necessary to apply for the free sewing machines provided by the Telangana Minorities Finance Corporation (TGMFC).
In a video posted on X, Amjed Ullah Khan addressed the public and reiterated that the scheme is free of cost for the individuals who apply for the sewing machines, to empower women from poor financial backgrounds to help themselves and earn better livelihoods, through stitching.
He said that while applying for the sewing machines offered by the TGFMC is completely free, multiple candidates complained of middlemen at the MRO offices asking for money from candidates to pay Rs 1000 to Rs 2000 for income certificates, which are provided by the government free of cost.
He urged responsible authorities to take immediate action against the agents who are looting the candidates in financial distress.
He also alleged that the MeeSeva operators are charging exorbitant fees to complete the online applications.
