Prez keen on micro-finance for women

NEW DELHI: The President has asked the government to focus on strengthening of micro-finance facilities for women and involve the corporate sector to ensure that self-help groups have a permanent link with marketing mechanisms.

President Pratibha Patil has asked the women and child development (WCD) ministry to incorporate these suggestions under its flagship scheme National Mission for Empowerment of Women. The ministry had made a presentation to Patil on the modalities of the mission last week.

The National Mission, that is still on the drawing board, has been envisaged as a nodal agency that will coordinate with 14 ministries to address gender-related issues in a holistic fashion. Amongst the other suggestions made by the President are strengthening of technical know-how, capacity building and extending marketing facilities to ensure that projects are economically viable.

���The President has taken a keen interest in the mission and has asked the government to ensure that self-help groups be made a nodal point to tackle poverty alleviation,��� an official said. The mission was one of the key recommendations made by the governors��� committee set up by the President. A token amount of Rs 1 crore has already been sanctioned in this year���s budget and the ministry hopes that work on the project will be fast-tracked.

Ministry officials hope that the PM will head the Authority that will liaison with all ministries and ensure deliverables.