Rs 200 cr aid for families of farmer committing suicide in Vidarbha

Pune, Feb 21 (UNI) Spiritual leader Mata Amritanandamayi has announced a package ''Amrit Shree'' for children and women, orphaned due to farmers committing suicide in Vidarbha.

The Rs 200 crore package would include scholarships to children and various trainings for women self-help groups.

Addressing a press conference here today, Swami Vidyamritananda Puri told mediapersons that already 30,000 children have got scholarships as part of the package and around 5000 women have been extended assistance through trainings in the self-help groups, to make them self-reliant.

The package was announced last year in the presence of the state Chief Minister, but work started only in September, after opening an office in Washim, he informed.

''Amma will be visiting Vidarbha on February 24. The mission is complementing the efforts of the government, but we are working independently as we are also providing assistance in other parts of the country where such incidents have happened'', he said. UNI DWN GR AE RK1900