PM, Sonia Gandhi conduct aerial survey of flood-hit U'khand; Rs. 1,000 cr relief announced

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh alongwith Congress President and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi undertook an aerial survey of the flood affected areas of Uttarakahand to assess the damage. The Prime minister also announced Rs.1,000 crore for disaster relief measures in flood-devastated parts of Uttarakhand where 102 persons have been killed and thousands left stranded at various places.

Central Cabinet Reshuffle: Eight new ministers sworn in

Eight new faces were inducted in the Council of Ministers today, with Sisram Ola and Oscar Fernandes making a re-entry after a gap of four years. President Pranab Mukherjee administered the oath of office and secrecy to the new ministers. Ola, along with Girija Vyas and K S Rao, were inducted as Cabinet Ministers. The Ministers of State inducted were Manikrao Gavit, Santosh Chowdhury, J D Seelam, E M S Natchiappan. Ola and Fernandes were ministers in the UPA-I but did not find a place in the UPA-II government. With the new inductions, the strength of the Council of Ministers went up to 77.

Congress president Sonia Gandhi at Alumni Meet 2013

Congress president Sonia Gandhi Interacting with The NSUI office bearers during Alumni Meet 2013

Sonia Gandhi speech at Aajeevika Diwas 2013 in New Delhi

UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi,  wh_ inaugurated Aajeevika Diwas 2013 _t _n Monday, understood th_ Inhabitant Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM) __ th_ __r___t women empowerment programme _n th_ planet _n_ _t w___ cover two-third _f th_ country's population _n next five years. Gandhi ____r_b__ th_ Inhabitant Rural Livelihoods Mission __ _n vital programme _f th_ UPA, _n_ claimed w_th th_ intention _f _n n_ additional country _f th_ planet, such _n ambitious _n_ h___ scheme f_r th_ empowerment _f women exists. "Now ___r_ nature h__ proved w_th th_ intention _f th__ programme __n emancipated women starting th_ curse _f poverty," understood Gandhi. "O_r function __ apparent. W_ h___ t_ strengthen th_ women SHGs _n_ th__r instruments financially," _h_ extra. Th_ UPA president ____ maintained w_th th_ intention _f th_ empowerment _f weaker sections _n_ women h__ b__n th_ Centre's main focus.

Sonia Gandhi inaugurates Aajivika Diwas wants its fast implementation

Congress President and  UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Monday while addressing the second anniversary function of the Congress-liked UPA’s land mark scheme flagship scheme  Aajivika mission, called for quick implementation of the same particularly in central and eastern parts had rechristened National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM) as Aajivika.

Sonia Gandhi said that the empowerment of weaker sections and women has been the main pillar of the UPA government. The Congress President  stressed on poverty alleviation and noted the importance of the Aajivika in making people self-dependent.

Sonia Gandhi announced that a special package is being prepared for north-eastern states and hilly states, like Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh. She also explained the the target of the government and said that in the next 10 years, seven crore below poverty line (BPL) families have to be lifted out of the poverty. Sonia Gandhi said: “Aajivika Mission in many states have proved that through women self-help groups (SHGs), economical and social changes can be brought in the rural areas. Seeing this success, it seems that Aajivika Mission will have to be implemented fast across the country especially in central and eastern India.”

Launched in June 2011 in Banswada in Rajsthan by Sonia Gandhi herself, Aajivika seeks to create efficient and effective institutional platforms of the rural poor. It seeks to enable people in rural areas to increase household income through sustainable livelihood enhancements and improved access to financial services.

The Aajivika has a target to cover seven crore BPL households across 600 districts, 6000 blocks, 2.5 lakh gram panchayats and six lakh villages through self-managed SHGs. The ministry seeks to support the SHGs in a period of 8-10 years. While highlighting the importance of the scheme, Sonia Gandhi said “today everybody has proved that this programme can free women from the curse of poverty”.

Reiterating the commitment of the UPA government towards women empowerment, she said the bank to be established for women in the country with an investment of Rs 1000 crore will be run by women only.

Aajeevika will free women from the curse of Poverty : Sonia Gandhi

New Delhi: Congress President Sonia Gandhi while inaugrating Aajeevika Diwas 2013 said, "In the direction of women empowerment, National Rural Livelihood Mission is the largest women empowerment programme in the world. In the coming five years it would cover two third of country's population.

This programme can free women from the curse of poverty and in this direction one has to strengthen the Women Self Help Groups financially."
UPA Chairperson further said that Empowerment of weaker sections of our society and women has been the main focus of the Government.

Aajeevika is a programme under National Rural Livelihood Mission which will cover seven crore rural households across 623 districts, 6000 Blocks, 2.5 Lakh gram panchayats and six lakh villages of India.

MGNREGA and Sonia Gandhi

 For Sonia Gandhi empowerment of our brothers in the villages has got a new dimension through this MGREGA. This has proved itself as the lifeline particularly for Dalits and Adivasis. It is providing social security as well.

 Amongst the beneficiaries of this scheme , women constitute 50%. This scheme has helped in controlling the migration from villages under compulsion. Village based Post Offices and Banks have also got a new boost by keeping and maintaining the accounts of this scheme. Farm labourers have started getting better wages due to the implementation of this scheme.
One salient feature of Mahatma Gandhi NREGA is that it has not only generated jobs but it has created `Green Employmen.

 She believes that through the help of Women Self help Groups and NGO's it can be build stronger and  MGNREGA has the capacity to improve farm productivity and bring in more Green revolution. It's budget of 40 thousand crores should be utilized in

Improving the quality of the land owned by marginal farmers and to provide them water for irrigation. Because such farmers possess 80% of our farmland.