Sonia Gandhi visits Andhra and Andaman Islands

On her visit to Andhra Pradesh she interacted with women NGO's working for the welfare of women and their empowerment; She congratulated the women of Andhra for their role in making themsleves empowered and said they led an example to the world for their achievments in this regards:

During her visit to Andhra Pradesh on 27 May 2009 Sonia Gandhi,chief of ruling Congress party laid the foundation stone of a new Indian Institute of Technology or IIT at Kandi village of Andhra Pradesh on Friday.IIT Medak campus to provide early relief to the students attending classes in a temporary campus located on the premises of the Ordnance Factory Medak.
UPA Chairperson Mrs. Sonia Gandhi has said that the Congress party has fulfilled its promises and brought change in the lives of common man during the past 5 years. Addressing a public meeting at Kothagudem in Khammam district of Andhra Pradesh, she said that the congress party is committed to provide equal opportunities for facilities such as education and health for all sections of society. The AICC President said it would be difficult to achieve equality among different sections without providing tribals their due rights over forests.
Highlighting the State Government's welfare schemes like Jalyagnam, Indiramma housing for poor and Arogyasri Health Insurance Scheme, she said that Rajiv Sagar and Indira Sagar irrigation projects would bring 4 lakh acres under irrigation in the Khammam district alone when completed. Stating that 2.25 lakh farmers in the state have been benefited with the waiver of crop loans. She also hailed the self reliance achieved by the Women self help groups in the state.

Congress President Sonia Gandhi has announced a slew of development programmes for the Andaman and Nicobar Islands including a plan to make it a tourism hub.Addressing a public meeting in Port Blair on Friday, Gandhi said "Rajiv Gandhi had envisioned the islands as a big hub of the tourism industry."Speaking on job opportunities she said that employment would also be generated for the local people with the Centre promoting the tuna fish industry in the islands.


It would be promoted under the Tuna Fishing Action Plan of the Government of India, she added.A medical college would also be established while engineering classes could be taken up at the existing polytechnic institute here, she said.For the improvement of sea transport, new ships would be bought for plying on inter-island routes and between Chennai and Port Blair and Kolkata and Port Blair, she said.For farmers who lost their land in the 2004 tsunami, Gandhi said, the Rajiv Gandhi Rehabilitation Foundation would provide them land and cattle.

Stating that the islands were peaceful and a "mini India", she cautioned the people against disruptive forces.Gandhi also unveiled a statue of late prime minister Rajiv Gandhi and inaugurated the Rajiv Gandhi Water Sports Complex.