Over 500 people to take part in Dandi march - II

Sonia Gandhi to flag off march today

Congress president Sonia Gandhi will flag off the Dandi march from the Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad on Saturday morning. Over 500 persons, including several foreigners, will walk the 380 kilometre route from Ahmedabad to Dandi before reaching Dandi on April 6.

The march is being organised by the Mahatma Gandhi Foundation and supported by the Union ministry of youth and cultural affairs.

Exactly 75 years ago, Mahatma Gandhi and his followers embarked on a civil disobedience movement, walking from Ahmedabad to Dandi in South Gujarat, against the British establishment's move to tax salt.

Speaking to newspersons in Ahmedabad, head, marketing, Reliance Infocomm, Kaushik Roy, said Reliance will partner the march by providing the communication network.

"A specially designed van will ensure connectivity, even in the remotest villages along the route. The van will have ten computers with internet connectivity so that those taking part in the march can keep in touch with others.

Tushar Gandhi, grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, said: "A lot of people from India and many parts of the world will participate in the march. They would like to get in touch with their family members and relatives. It is great that Reliance has provided this communication support along the route."

Over 450 foreigners have enrolled themselves for the march from the US, Netherlands, England, Ireland, China, African countries and even Pakistan.

"About 200 foreigners have already arrived while the remaining are expected soon. As many as 150 Pakistanis are also joining the march. They are facing some visa problems, but are likely to join the march in a day or two," Gandhi said.

Speaking at the launch of the internet mobile van, S P Shikla, vice president, wireless products and services, Reliance Infocomm, said: "Gandhi had a vision of empowering villages and this is exactly what we want to do in the second phase of our expansion, that will include reaching four lakh villages, 5,700 towns which will broadly cover about 91 per cent of habitat in the country."

He added that Reliance was also helping in projects of e-governance, e-education and e-medicine.

The Dandi march will have 44 halts between Ahmedabad and Dandi in south Gujarat.