On way to Unchahar, she got off her car and walked into a village market in Pakhrauli, inquiring about the prices of veggies — potato, tomato, brinjal and green chillies.

Learning that each was priced at Rs 10 a kg, she asked the vendors whether they grew the veggies or had bought them.

The detour took everyone by surprise. The clue could lie in the fact that earlier in the day, while her cavalcade was crossing Saraini market, villagers lining the road had shouted: “Madam mehngai ke liye kuch kariye”.

Gandhi had landed at Amausi airport and instead of taking her usual Lucknow-Rae Bareli route, she had chosen to go via Unnao.

Inspection of NREGS remained the top priority of the Congress president, even though she inspected other Centrally-funded schemes like mid-day meal and old age pension and listened to the woes of villagers.

Her tour began with an inspection of a pond being constructed under NREGS at Chandramani Khera village. The villagers there complained about late payments. She also inspected a canal, which the villagers said, was not being cleaned despite the project receiving an approval. Amresh Kumar, the Sub Divisional Magistrate said the canal will be cleaned within a week.

After inspecting NREGS work sites in different villages, in Barvalia, Gandhi walked into a primary school to check on the mid-day meal scheme. She found it unsatisfactory, and the quantity of food served was far less than required.

Thereafter she moved to Satvan Khera, where villagers complained about the non-disbursal of pension funds. A villager said: “The gram pradhan is well off, but his parents are getting pension. The other deserving ones in the village are yet to get the benefit.”

The women complained that they were being denied work under NREGS. Gandhi ordered an immediate inquiry and asked for a report by Saturday morning.

She also met a Dalit handicapped boy, Ramesh Kumar, who completed his graduation and a course at ITI, but was not getting a job. Gandhi assured him a job and a computer as well. At Pakhrauli village, she visited the market and a small bridge on Ganga in Dalmau. The locals said the bridge, built at a cost Rs 30 crore from Central funds, is complete but waits for formal inauguration. On Saturday, Gandhi has called a meeting of the vigilance committee for reviewing development work in the region.

Sonia meets family of ‘Bal Congress’ leader
Sonia made it a point to visit the house of Abhishek Jaiswal, who had died recently following burn injuries. Jaiswal (14) had formed a “Bal Congress”, campaigning for her during the recent Lok Sabha election. He had hit the headlines when Priyanka Gandhi, while campaigning for her mother in Rae Bareli, had appreciated his efforts and had told him that she would bring her two children to be part of his Bal Congress. He had an accident at home and despite being admitted to a private hospital in Lucknow following the intervention of Priyanka Gandhi, he had succumbed to his injuries. This was the first visit of any Gandhi family member to the house after his death. While Abhishek’s sister Reshma told Sonia that he wanted to meet Priyanka