One of the latest initiatives under the Ministry of Rural Development, UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi has launched National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM) to slash the poverty rate in India by promising potential work opportunity for people below poverty line. UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi unveiled the mission document of NRLM today at a function in Banswara. It would enable the vulnerable sections of the society to cope with the challenges in an organized manner with the support of Self Help Groups and the institutions under its framework. Sonia Gandhi also underlined the need to involve the women in carrying out the social audit so that the involvement and participation of the people is ensured for effective implementation of the program. The Mission aims to ensure that at least one member from each identified rural poor household, preferably a woman, is brought under the Self Help Group (SHG) network in a time bound manner. NRLM would reach out, mobilize and support 7 Crore BPL households across 600 districts, 6000 blocks, 2.5 lakh Gram Panchayats, in 6 lakh villages across the country into their self-managed Self Help Groups (SHGs) and their federal institutions and livelihoods collectives. The role of Banks will be of prime importance under NRLM as a source of credit for the poor at reasonable rates. NRLM will focus on getting banks to lend to the poor by making them bankable clients through smart use of subsidy. NRLM will focus on women as we believe that the best way of reaching out to the whole family is through the woman. There will be a special focus on vulnerable sections: scheduled tribes, scheduled castes, minorities, women headed families, etc. The second focus of NRLM would be rural youth of the country who are unemployed. They will be supported through placement linked skill development projects through which their skills will be upgraded through short term training courses in sectors which have high demand for services. Union Minister for Rural Development & Panchayati Raj Vilasrao Deshmukh and Chief Minister of Rajasthan, Ashok Gehlot were present on this occasion. The program was also attended by Union Minister of Surface Transport , Dr. C.P.Joshi, Union Minister of Housing and poverty alleviation Kumari Seilja, Union Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment Mukul Wasnik , Minister of State for Rural Development Pradeep Jain Aditya , Minister of State for Finance Namo Narayan Meena ,Minister Of State for Railways K.H.Muniyappa, Minister Of State for Tribal Affairs Mahadev Singh Khandela , Minister of State for Communications Sachin Pilot and Rajasthan Rural Development Minister Bharat Singh along with a host of MPs, MLAs , Sarpanches and the Officials. source: Press Information Bureau