UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Friday launched the National Rural Livelihood Mission at the tribal dominated district of Banswada in Rajasthan. The scheme will provide opportunities of self-employment to seven crore people living below the poverty line. Mrs. Gandhi said that the new initiative will empower rural women, for which initially 500 crore rupees have been allocated. She also laid stress on the need for social audit of welfare schemes. Mrs. Gandhi also launched a scheme of Rajasthan Government ‘Mukhya Mantri BPL Aawas Yojana’ which will provide houses to 10 lakh BPL families in next three years. Chief Minister of Rajasthan Ashok Gahlot and Minister of Rural Development Vilasrao Deshmukh also addressed the function prior to launch the Livelihood scheme.
Earlier, Mrs Gandhi laid the foundation stone of Ratlam-Dungarpur Rail line. The 2,083 crore rupee project will provide rail link for this tribal dominated area. The 176 kilometre rail line will also be beneficial for thermal plant of this area.