INTERVIEW
MESSAGES
Instrument of Social Change
A Boon to the Vulnerable
Dr. CN Ashwath Narayan, Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka, shares his views on the implementation of Sanjeevini NRLM activities and the way ahead.
Sanjeevini’s purpose is to bring rural women into the mainstream and enhance the state's overall progress. The government intends to extend the life of the Sanjeevini Mission self help groups to every village and realise Mahatma Gandhi's dream of empowerment. How are the programmes of the NRLM being implemented in Karnataka? Has the Sanjeevini Mission been able to alleviate the unemployment of women in rural areas of Karnataka? The Sanjeevini programme is being implemented successfully in the 176 taluks of all 30 districts in the state, with the full support of our government. Sanjeevini is a boon to the women mainly in rural areas, and works for their economic, social and cultural development. Women are encouraged and supported to form self help groups, to save money and take up livelihood activities. I firmly believe that nothing is difficult if you work with a clear goal and a strong commitment. Sanjeevini is supported by grants from the Central
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and the State governments which help in institution building and extension of loans. Who are the beneficiaries of the Sanjeevini scheme? Women in rural areas who are economically backward, those who are below the poverty line, from marginalised communities such as Scheduled Caste and Tribes, Special Tribes, landless, widows, abandoned women, sex professionals, migrant workers, are the beneficiaries of the NRLM – Sanjeevini project. As members of the self help groups, they head their own business and take internal loans from the group to start their activities economically with self-reliance. This is a revolutionary project that is being implemented in rural Karnataka. Sanjeevini | 11
