'Country will progress when maximum people are educated'

Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Thursday said that the society and country would progress only when maximum people get education for which the United Progressive Alliance government has taken concrete steps.

"The society and the country will progress only when maximum people get educated. Education is the key to a bright future," Sonia said in her address after laying the foundation stone for widening of the Lucknow-Rae Bareli road and other projects.

She said that the UPA government has taken concrete steps in the field of education.

"Approval has been given for one model school in every block and 75 per cent of the cost is being given by the UPA government. In Uttar Pradesh money has been provided for 148 schools," she said.

The UPA chairperson said that Rae Bareli being the "karmbhoomi" of late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, it was her wish that a girls' degree college should be build in her memory.

Sonia said that the human resource development ministry has taken an initiative to set up a degree college.

"State government has also shown positive stand in giving land. As soon as land is provided necessary steps would be taken immediately and the college will be named after Indira Gandhi," she said.

The UPA president said that Lucknow-Rae Bareli road would be converted into four lanes at a cost of Rs 600 crore. Sonia said that work on widening Rae Bareli-Allahabad road would be started soon with a cost of Rs 300 crore.

"The UPA government has given approval for national highway projects at a cost of Rs 1,800 crore," she said.

Sonia said, "this is my request to Road Transport and Highways Minister C P Joshi that all these projects should be completed at the earliest and in a time-bound manner with quality so that people could benefit during Kumbh to be organised in Allahabad next year".

She said that keeping in view future needs, efforts should also be made for a ring road.

She said that various schemes related to infrastructure have been started in various districts of the state.

"It would create employment opportunities for youths and people would get a better life," she said.

The UPA chairperson said that the Centre has implemented a number of schemes, programmes and laws and people were getting its benefit.

"Work on rail coach factory is being expedited and efforts will be made to bring more new programmes. I will like to assure that I will continue to work and struggle for the development of Rae Bareli," she said.

Sonia said that she was feeling good after coming among the people of Rae Bareli after a long time.

"I am sorry that I could come here earlier due to some personal reasons," she said.