from Daijiworld's special correspondent in Panaji with pics from Rajtilak Naik - Wednesday, 9-30 pm

Panaji, Feb 22: The All India Congress committee (AICC) has set up a special training department to familiarize the party workers with the government's policies besides informing them about the Congress party's history.

Disclosing this at a public meeting in Goa on Wednesday evening Congress president Sonia Gandhi, advised party workers to familiarize with the social, economical, political and foreign policies of the central government so that they can counter propaganda of opponents.

She was accompanied by AICC General secretaries Margarrete alva, Mukul Wasnik, Goa chief minister Pratapsingh Rane, Goa Pradesh congress committee president Ravi Naik on the stage.

Gandhi today advised Congress governments in various state governments to be sensitive towards the sentiments of the party workers so that various schemes can be percolated down to the grassroot level.

"We should not forget that it is always tireless efforts of the party workers that bring party to the power. There must be close relation between party workers and government," she said.

Congress president is on two day visit to Goa and will meet all the congress legislators at two different occasions planned tonight and tomorrow morning.

Gandhi, referring to UPA's common minimum programme, said that in last 20 months the central government has initiated bold initiatives particularly in the field of empowering weaker section.