Sonia Gandhi urges women to come forward to solve insurgency

Guwahati, Feb 9 (UNI) UPA chairperson and Congress president Sonia Gandhi today urged the women to help the government settle the insurgency problem in the region.

Inaugurating an Integrated Scheme for Women's Empowerment at the Judges' Field here, she said women have the ability and potential to solve social issues. She said a strong network of women SHGs and NGOs could extend a great help in this regard.

" Some of the states of the region have been witnessing violence.

Our government has always been willing to settle the problems through dialogue so that peace could return to the region", she said.

Pointing out that women have a special place in the society, she praised them for their hard working nature and being a driving force in the society in some of the states.

Ms Gandhi informed that the women in the country have started a silent revolution as 22 lakh women SHGs were formed throughout the country in the past two years indicating the strong motivation of the women to become associated in the economic development of the country.

She advised the women SHGs of the region to follow the Andhra Pradesh example of buinding a strong network of SHGs from village level onwards.

" Collective mobilization of women could bring a speedy transformation in the society and women SHGs and NGOs should therefore work together with the panchayat members to usher in economic development in the society", she said.

The UPA chairperson also urged the people to become involved in the implementation of the welfare schemes taken by the present government for the uplift of women and poor.

Organized by the Central Social Welfare Board (CSWB), the meeting was attended by representatives from all North Eastern states including a large number of women from Assam.

The meeting was also addressed by Union home minister Shivraj Patil, Asom chief minister Tarun Gogoi, Arunachal Pradesh Congress Committee president Omen Deuri and CSWB chairperson Rajani Patil.

UNI