Congress' 'guarantees' will help change lives of women: Sonia Gandhi

Sonia Gandhi assures revolutionary change for women with Congress' 'Mahalakshmi' scheme, promising ₹1 lakh annually to poor families.

Congress Parliamentary party chairperson Sonia Gandhi on May 13 assured people that the "guarantees" listed by the party in its Lok Sabha poll manifesto will change their circumstances in this "difficult time".

In a video message, which was shared by the Congress on social media, she said women of the country are facing tough times in the wake of a "severe crisis" and the party's 'Mahalakshmi scheme' for them will help change their lives.

Lok Sabha voting Phase 4 LIVE updates | Over 10% polling recorded in first two hours

"My dear sisters, women have made a huge contribution, from the freedom struggle to the creation of modern India. However, today our women are facing a crisis amid severe inflation. To do justice to their hard work and penance, the Congress has come up with a revolutionary guarantee," Sonia Gandhi said.

"The Congress' 'Mahalakshmi' scheme guarantees that we will give ₹1 lakh every year to a woman from a poor family," she said in her message, an appeal to people voting in the ongoing fourth round of the seven-phase general elections to support the Congress.

Sonia Gandhi said the Congress' "guarantees" have already changed the lives of crores of families in Karnataka and Telangana, where it has also implemented the scheme. The Congress is in power in these two southern States.

"Be it MGNREGA, Right to Information, Right to Education or through schemes such as Food Security, the Congress party has empowered millions of Indians. The 'Mahalakshmi' is the latest guarantee to take our work forward," Sonia Gandhi said.