New Delhi, Oct 2 : Scores of people, who included home makers and anganwadi workers as well as well known personalities, formed a human chain at the India Gate lawns Friday to send out the message that violence against women should not be tolerated and to formally launch the women and child development ministry's campaign.

"We want to go beyond schemes and sensitise people about violence against women and the importance of empowering women so that they can fight for their own rights. Therefore, we are starting this nation-wide campaign and will go to each of the states with this message," Women and Child Development Minister Krishna Tirath told IANS.

The event was organised on the occasion of Mahatma Gandhi's 140th birth anniversary since, Tirath said, Gandhi preached non-violence and women empowerment.

To symbolise that every individual must join hands to make the mission meet its successful conclusion, prominent personalities like Delhi Lt Governor Tejender Khanna, former IPS officer Kiran Bedi and danseuse Shovana Narayan formed a human chain along with scores of other participants, including health workers and home makers.(IANS)