Sonia Gandhi at Indira Gandhi National Integration Award function warns against divisive forces

Congress President and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi while speaking at the Indira Gandhi National Integration Award function in New Delhi hit out at the RSS and BJP indirectly. "There is a danger from some ideologies, organisations and people who want to divide us", said the Congress President without naming anyone. The award was given to noted agriculture scientist M S Swaminathan.

Sonia Gandhi's dream: a hunger-free India

Congress President and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi is the guiding force behind most of the pro-poor welfare measures implemented by the UPA Government at the Centre. MNREGA, RTI are some of the example. The most important one implemented by the UPA-II is the historic Food Security Bill which ensures that no one in our country sleeps in hunger. Championed by Sonia Gandhi, this bill will make a great impact in the Indian Society in the days to come.

Sonia Gandhi championed Food Security Bill gets Parliament nod

Congress President and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi was the main guiding force behind Congress-led UYPA Government's historic Food Secusity Bill. About 80% of the people in our country is going to get the benefit of this land mark scheme. With this Bill, every poor is guaranteed with the Right to food.

सोनिया गांधी ने की अहिंसा मैसेंजर की शुरूआत

कृष्णा तीरथ जी, किशोर चंद्रदेव जी, जेपी अग्रवाल जी, किरण वालिया जी, अंबिका चौधरी जी यहां सभी मौजूद कांग्रेस गण, उपस्थित अधिकारी गण, बहनों, भाइयों अहिंसा मैसेंजर कार्यक्रम का आज शुरूआत है। मुझे बेहद खुशी है कि इस अवसर पर मैं आप सब के बीच हूं। इस समारोह में भाग लेने आएं महिलाओं और युवा पीढ़ी के उत्साह से सारा वातावरण एक नए लगन और उर्जा से भर गया है। ये गर्मजोशी स्वभाविक है क्योंकि अहिंसा मैसेंजर का सीधा संबंध महिलाओं की सुरक्षा और सशक्तिकरण से है। महिलाओं के कानूनी अधिकारों, उनके आर्थिक सामाजिक विकास, उनकी सुरक्षा और सम्मान के बारे में अहिंसा मैसेंजर जन-जन तक जागरूकता और जानकारी पहुंचाएगी। इस जिम्मेदारी को निभाने के लिए इन्हे ट्रेनिंग देकर सक्षम बनाया जाएगा और इसकी विशेषता एक और है, यह कि किशोर बालकों को भी इसमे शामिल किया गया है। राजीव जी की गहरी और दूरदर्शी सोच थी कि महिलाएं समाज की अंतरआत्मा होती हैं। परिवार और समाज को एक सूत्र में बांधकर रखती है। वह सभी महिलाओं को राजनीतिक ताकत देना चाहते थे और इसी लिये पंचायत राज संस्थाओं में एक तिहाई आरक्षण के लिये राजीव जी ने खुद संघर्ष किया है। उनके दिखाए रास्ते पर आगे बढ़ते हुए हमारी यूपीए सरकार ने महिलाओं के लिये पंचायतों में आरक्षण को एक तिहाई से बढ़ाकर 50 प्रतिशत किया है। आज हमारी पंचायत राज संस्थाओं में लाखों-लाखों महिलाएं अपनी आवाज बुलंद करती है। साथ ही बड़ी संख्या में महिलाएं शिक्षा, कला, उद्योग, बैंकिंग, विज्ञान, प्रशासन और राजनीति में महत्वपूर्ण योगदान कर रहीं है। लेकिन जहां एक तरफ महिलाएं सभी क्षेत्र में कामयाबी की उचाईयां छू रही है, वहीं दूसरी तरफ बाल विवाह, कन्या भ्रूण हत्या, दहेज संबंधित अत्याचार, घरेलू हिंसा और यौन उत्पीड़न जैसी शर्मनाक घटना और कुरूतियों की शिकार हो रही हैं। मुझे गर्व है कि हमारी यूपीए सरकार ने महिलाओं की अस्तित्व की रक्षा और उन्हे सशक्त बनाने के लिये प्रभावशाली कानून और नीतियां बनाये है। तमाम योजनाओं, तमाम कार्यक्रमों के लिए बेजोड़ संसाधन उपलब्ध कराया है। मिशाल के तौर पर महिलाओं के साथ होने वाली यौन अपराधों के खिलाफ आपराधिक कानून संसोधन अधिनियम लागू किया जिसमे कड़ी सजा का प्रावधान है। कार्यस्थलों पर महिलाओं के यौन उत्पीड़न की रोकथाम, पुस्तैनी जमीन में लड़कियों को लड़कों के बराबर अधिकार संबंधी कानून बनाया है। संसद और विधानसभाओं में महिला आरक्षण के लिए विधेयक भी संसद में पेश किया है। आंगनबाड़ी के बहनों का मानदेय दो गुना बढ़ाया है। हाल ही में लोकसभा में पास किया राष्ट्रीय खाद्य सुरक्षा योजना में भी महिलाओं को विशेष महत्व दिया गया है। जहां पीडीएस में बहुत ही सस्ते दर पर अनाज के अधिकार की कानूनी गारंटी दी गयी है। वही सस्ते अनाज के साथ-साथ गर्भवती महिलाएं 6000 रू की आर्थिक सहायता की भी हकदार होंगी। सस्ते राशन की दुकानों का अलार्टमेंट महिला स्वयं सहायता समूह को दिया जाएगा। राष्ट्रीय ग्रामीण आजीविका मिशन के माध्यम से महिलाओं को स्वयं सहायता समूह में संगठित करने और उनके समूह को कम व्याज पर कर्ज की सुविधा के जरिये उन्हे आत्मनिर्भर बना रहे है। इनकी आमदनी बढ़ाने का बड़े पैमाने पर प्रयास किया जा रहा है। सबला योजना के अंतर्गत किशोर उम्र की बालिकाओं को शिक्षा, बेहतर पोशन, स्वास्थ्य और स्कील डबलपमेंट के जरिये और सशक्त बनाया जा रहा है। इससे लाभ उठाने वाली लड़कियों को ट्रेनिंग देकर उन्हे अहिंसा मैसेंजर की जिम्मेदारी दी जाएगी और आंगनबाड़ी कार्यकर्ता भी कोच की महत्वपूर्ण भूमिका निभाएंगी। बहनों और भाइयों हमे इस बात का एहसास है कि केवल कानून बनाने से या नीतियों की घोषणा करने से महिलाओं का सशक्तिकरण नहीं होगा। इसके साथ कानूनों और नीतियों को ठीक तरिके से जमीनी स्तर पर लागू करना भी जरूरी है। लेकिन सबसे बुनियादी बात यह है कि हमारे समाज के नजरिये में बदलाव लाने की जरूरत है। पुराने ख्याल को दूर करके महिलाओं को पुरूषों के समान दर्जा देना एक बहुत बड़ी चुनौति है। महिलाओं के खिलाफ व्यवहार और गैर बराबरी के दिवार को गिराना होगा और इसके लिये एक सामाजिक क्रांति की जरूरत है। मैं कहना चाहूंगी कि हम सब बहनों की जिम्मेदारी बनती है कि इस बदलाव के क्रांतिकारी कदम की शुरूआत हम सभी अपने-अपने घरों और परिवारों से ही शुरू करे। हम सब जानते है कि माता-पिता की शिक्षा से ही बच्चे प्रभावित होते है। घर के चार दिवारों में ही उनके समाजिक विचार की ढ़ांचा तैयार होता है। परिवार में जो अधिकार भाई को है वही बहन को भी होना चाहिए, बहन अपने भाई से कोई कम नहीं है। लड़को की तरह उन्हे भी शिक्षा, विकास और रोजगार जैसे दूसरे अवसर पाने का भी अधिकार है। लड़को की तरह उनके अंदर भी हिम्मत, हौसला और आत्मविश्वास पैदा करने की जरूरत है। तो मै उम्मीद करती हूं कि इस बदलाव को लाने में अहिंसा मैसेंजर की यह मुहिम एक बहुत ही प्रभावी कदम साबित होगी। अंत में मैं श्रीमति कृष्णा तीरथ और उनके मंत्रालय के सभी अधिकारियों को बधाई और धन्यवाद देती हूं, कि उन्होने अहिंसा मैसेंजर कार्यक्रम की शुरूआत इतने विशाल समारोह के साथ किया और दूरदराज से आएं सबला योजना से जूड़ी हमारी युवतियां और आंगनबाड़ी की कार्यकर्ताओं की भी मैं आभारी हूं जिन्होने इतनी भारी संख्या में इस कार्यक्रम में भाग लिया और इसे सफल बनाया। इस अवसर पर हम सब संकल्प करे कि महिलाओं के विरूध हिंसा की सोच और हिंसा की घटनाओं को हम सब मिलकर बिलकुल खत्म करेंगे व सभी कदम हम उठाएंगे जिससे महिलाएं डर से मुक्त हो, सशक्त हो, उनकी गरिमा बढ़े और उनका सम्मान हो। अंत में मैं इस सभा में आने के लिये आप सभी को धन्यवाद देती हूं और दिल से आप सभी को बहुत-बहुत धन्यवाद, जय हिंद।

Sonia Gandhi launched the ‘Ahimsa Messenger’

I am very happy to be present here at the launch of ‘Ahimsa Messenger’ programme. The wonderful gathering a huge number of women and young girls has ignited the environment with a fresh energy and renewed hope.. This enthusiasm is genuine as this programme – Ahimsa Messenger – is directly dealing with empowerment of the women and their safety.  This Ahimsa Messenger programme is aimed at generating awareness about basic legal rights of the women, their economic and social development and on their respect and safety.  To achieve this, the programme envisages generating awareness amongst the community and giving training to the various cadres of grass root level workers.  Further there will be programmes to generate awareness amongst the adolescent girls and boys about their civic responsibilities and duties.

Rajiv Gandhi had a farsighted vision and he considered that the women are the main soul of the society.  Political empowerment of the women was always the main focus for Rajiv Gandhi and he put in all his sincere efforts to implement 33% reservation for women in Panchayats.  Following his footsteps, the UPA Government at the centre increased the percentage of women in panchayats from 33% to 50%. Today, lakhs of women across the country have actively been taking part in Panchayati Raj administration. Women in good numbers have now been contributing at various levels like education, art, industry, banking, science, administration and politics. When women are reaching new milestones with their commendable performance at different walks of life,  there are also shameful incidents of child marriage, female foeticide, dowry-related atrocities, domestic and sexual violence. 

I am happy to underline that the UPA Government at the Centre implemented various schemes, policies and laws to ensure the safety of women and for their empowerment. We brought in the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act , 2013 to ensure stringent punishment for those who indulge in sexual crimes against women. UPA also has passed the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 to protect women’s right to equality, life and liberty. We also brought in a law to ensure women equal share in property.  Further, the bill to ensure women reservation in Parliament and Assemblies has already been introduced.  The wages of Anganwadi workers have been doubled. Enough provisions are there to protect the interests of the women in the Food Security Bill, recently passed in the Lok Sabha. While ensuring legal entitlement for the subsidized food grains through the PDS, the Bill in addition, also has the clause to provide a financial assistance of Rs. 6000 to the pregnant women. The responsibility to run the PDS shops will be entrusted with the Self Help Group for women. Through the National Rural Ajeevika Mission, women are now can avail loans at lower rates with the help of Self Help Groups and thus to make them self reliant.

Further the adolescent girls are being benefitted by the SABLA scheme, implemented to enable self-development and their empowerment, to improve their health and nutrition status and also to provide skill development training. The girls who successfully come out after the training will be the main activists of this Ahimsa Messenger programme and the Anganwadi workers will have the role of coaches.

We know that making laws and policies is not enough; but we also have to implement them at the grass-root levels. The most fundamental issue is that the mindset and old thoughts of our society have to be changed. In this modern society, we must be ready to ensure equal rights for women; it is our responsibility and a challenge.  What we want now is a social revolution to demolish all the walls of discrimination amongst women.

I want to tell my sisters assembled here that the first step in this direction should start from us and that too from our homes. We all know that parents are the best teachers as far as children are concerned.

In a family the right that a male child has should be given to a girl child too. Like every boy, each girl child also has the right to get proper education, training, job and also to secure a respectable position in the society. Girls also must have the feeling of safety, self-reliance and confidence.  I earnestly hope that this Ahimsa Messenger programme will have a great role make this mission possible.

I take this opportunity to congratulate Smt Krishna Tirath and her colleagues and staff for launching this prestigious scheme. I also thank the huge gathering of girls and Anganwadi workers who are assembled here in this wonderful function. 

Let us take a pledge today that we will, together, work hand-in-hand, to put an end to the atrocities and violence against women. Let us all work together to ensure empowerment, development and respect to all our sisters.
Thank you.

Sonia Gandhi launches Ahimsa Messenger, says atrocities against women must end

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Congress President and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi launched the ‘Ahimsa Messenger’ Programme – an initiative by the Centre to address the violence against women - on Saturday. “This Ahimsa Messenger programme is aimed at generating awareness about basic legal rights of the women, their economic and social development and on their respect and safety” said Sonia Gandhi. The Congress President also said that just making laws would not prevent crimes. “We know that making laws and policies is not enough; but we also have to implement them at the grass-root levels. The most fundamental issue is that the mindset and old thoughts of our society have to be changed. In this modern society, we must be ready to ensure equal rights for women; it is our responsibility and a challenge. What we want now is a social revolution to demolish all the walls of discrimination amongst women,” said Sonia Gandhi.

Sonia Gandhi addresses the function after launching Ahimsa Messenger in New Delhi

Congress President and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi launched the 'Ahimsa Messenger' Programme -- an initiative to address the violence against women by the Centre - on Saturday. Smt. Krishna Tirath, Minister, Women and Child Development in the presence of Shri V. Kishore Chandra Deo Minister, Panchayati Raj and Tribal Affairs were also present. Nearly 30,000 girls from Delhi NCR who have been benefitted by Rajiv Gandhi Scheme for Empowerment of Adolescent Girls or SABLA also attended the function.

Sonia Gandhi launches Ahimsa Messenger; stresses for safety and empowerment of women

Congress President and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi launched the ‘Ahimsa Messenger’ Programme – an initiative by the Centre to address the violence against women - on Saturday.

“This Ahimsa Messenger programme is aimed at generating awareness about basic legal rights of the women, their economic and social development and on their respect and safety” said Sonia Gandhi. The Congress President also said that just making laws would not prevent crimes.  “We know that making laws and policies is not enough; but we also have to implement them at the grass-root levels. There is a need to change the mindset of the people in our society. In this modern society, we must be ready to ensure equal rights for women; it is our responsibility and a challenge.  What we want now is a social revolution, to break all barriers which prevent equality for women” said Sonia Gandhi.

“In a family the right that a male child has should be given to a girl child too. Like every boy, each girl child also has the right to get proper education, training, job and also to secure a respectable position in the society” added the UPA Chairperson.

While expressing her concern over the growing crimes against women, Sonia Gandhi commented “When women are reaching new milestones with their commendable performance at different walks of life, there are also shameful incidents of child marriage, female foeticide, dowry-related atrocities, domestic and sexual violence”. 

“Let us take a pledge today that we will, together, work hand-in-hand, to put an end to the atrocities and violence against women. Let us all work together to ensure empowerment, development and respect to all our sisters” she urged the huge gathering of girls and Anganwadi Workers present while concluding her address.

Smt. Krishna Tirath, Minister, Women and Child Development in the presence of Shri V. Kishore Chandra Deo Minister, Panchayati Raj and Tribal Affairs were also present. Nearly 30,000 girls from Delhi NCR who have been benefitted by Rajiv Gandhi Scheme for Empowerment of Adolescent Girls or SABLA also attended the function.

This initiative addresses violence against women in all forms through a mass movement by creating numerous Ahimsa Messengers in various parts of the country, till the grassroots level. This programme aims at preventing violence against women and children and generating awareness about basic legal rights, procedures and provisions amongst women and children at the grassroots. The programme involves both men and women including youths to address and eliminate all forms of violence against women and children at grassroots and facilitate social/community mobilization to fight social evils. Ahimsa Messengers would also serve as link workers in case of any violence and also facilitate the women to approach the concerned authorities in case of incidences of violence for suitable redressal and follow up on the case.

This programme will be implemented through all Anganwadi Centres, all Panchayati Raj Institutions, Sabla Girls (in the age group of 16-18 years) and Poorna Shakti Kendras (PSK) coordinators under the National Mission for Empowerment of Women (NMEW) will be trained as Ahimsa Messengers.

Sonia Gandhi speaks after the launch of Ahimsa Messenger in New Delhi

Congress President and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi launched the 'Ahimsa Messenger' Programme -- an initiative to address the violence against women by the Centre - on Saturday. Smt. Krishna Tirath, Minister, Women and Child Development in the presence of Shri V. Kishore Chandra Deo Minister, Panchayati Raj and Tribal Affairs were also present. Nearly 30,000 girls from Delhi NCR who have been benefitted by Rajiv Gandhi Scheme for Empowerment of Adolescent Girls or SABLA also attended the function.

Sonia Gandhi launches Ahimsa Messenger - an initiative to curb violence against women

Congress President and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi launched the 'Ahimsa Messenger' Programme -- an initiative to address the violence against women by the Centre - on Saturday. Smt. Krishna Tirath, Minister, Women and Child Development in the presence of Shri V. Kishore Chandra Deo Minister, Panchayati Raj and Tribal Affairs were also present. Nearly 30,000 girls from Delhi NCR who have been benefitted by Rajiv Gandhi Scheme for Empowerment of Adolescent Girls or SABLA also attended the function.

Sonia Gandhi in Lok Sabha: Food Bill is a big message; seeks support of all to pass it

New Delhi: Congress President and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi while taking part in the debate on historic Food Security Bill in the Parliament. The question is not whether we can do it or not; we have to do it. Some people also ask whether this bill is beneficial for the farmers. I want to underline that we have always given prominence to farmers and agriculture".

Sonia Gandhi in Lok Sabha urges MPs: Set aside differences, pass the Food Security Bill

New Delhi: Congress President and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi while taking part in the debate on historic Food Security Bill in the Parliament requested all the members to pass UPA's flagship welfare scheme to provide subsidized food to nearly 70% of population.

Sonia Gandhi takes part in the debate in Lok Sabha on Food Security Bill

New Delhi: Congress President and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi while taking part in the debate on historic Food Security Bill in the Parliament requested all the members to pass UPA's flagship welfare scheme to provide subsidized food to nearly 70% of population. While speaking in the Lok Sabha, a determined and confident Sonia Gandhi asserted, "Some people ask whether we have enough resources to successfully implement this bill. But it is not a question of how we find means to implement Food Bill; we have to find the way. The question is not whether we can do it or not; we have to do it. Some people also ask whether this bill is beneficial for the farmers. I want to underline that we have always given prominence to farmers and agriculture".

Sonia Gandhi talks on Food Security Bill in Lok Sabha

Congress President and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi speaks in Lok Sabha on the historic Food Security Bill. She said that it is a historic chance for the Parliament to ensure right to food to the poor.

Sonia Gandhi at National Media Centre welcomes the watchdog role of the media

New Delhi: Congress President and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Saturday inaugurated the National Media Centre alongwith the Prime Minister. While addressing the gathering Sonia Gandhi, who is also the Congress President, said that media need not be the enemy of the government and also said that the government welcome all criticism. In her address Sonia Gandhi asserted "Media and the government often disagree. The editorial columns and the voices of the prime time news provide ample evidence for this. But I venture to say that this can be healthy and there need not be any antagonism between the two".

Charismatic Congress leaders -- Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi

Congress party is blessed with great mass leaders in party president Sonia Gandhi, vice President Rahul Gandhi and Congress star campaigner Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. All these leaders have a special ability to easily strike chord with the common people.

Sonia Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi -- two efficient, energetic leaders of Congress

As Congress President, Sonia Gandhi proved herself as an able, progressive leader with a modern vision. Sonia Gandhi, who is also a Member of Parliament from Raebareli, always gave priority to ensure the welfare and upliftment of the poor in our country. Her daughter Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also follows the same ideology.

Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi -- two efficient, energetic leaders of Congress

As Congress President, Sonia Gandhi proved herself as an able, progressive leader with a modern vision. Sonia Gandhi, who is also a Member of Parliament from Raebareli, always gave priority to ensure the welfare and upliftment of the poor in our country. Her son and Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi also follows the same ideology.

For Sonia Gandhi Development means welfare and upliftment for the poor

As Congress President, Sonia Gandhi proved herself as an able, progressive leader with a modern vision. Sonia Gandhi, who is also a Member of Parliament from Raebareli, always gave priority to ensure the welfare and upliftment of the poor in our country. As MP she has done a lot of development works for Raebareli.

Sonia Gandhi -- committed for the welfare of aam aadmi

Welfare and upliftment of poor has always been the mission of Sonia Gandhi, the Congress President and UPA Chairperson. It was Sonia Gandhi, who is the guiding force behind many welfare schemes of Congress-led UPA Government at the centre like MNREGA, Food Security Bill etc.