New Delhi, Feb 16 : Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Monday announced substantial schemes for women and the downtrodden society. He said a Ministry of Minority Affairs would oversee 15-point programme for the welfare of minorities.

"A new Ministry of Minority Affairs and a 15-point programme will be functioning soon for the welfare of minorities," Mukherjee told Parliament.

Of the massive spending projected on social sector schemes that will have an impact on ''Aam Aadmi'' (the Common Man), the Bharat Nirman scheme would get Rs.
40,900 crore and the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme will get Rs. 30,100 crore in the coming year, he said.

Mukherjee announced that authorized capital of the Rashtriya Mahila Kosh would also be strengthened.

Mukherjee declared that two new schemes- Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme and the Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme would also be launched this year to provide pension to widows and severely disabled persons respectively.

He also proposed to give priority to the admission of young widows to it is, besides providing stipend and training costs. (ANI)