Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is set to visit Pedamainavani Lanka (PM Lanka) village in Andhra Pradesh's West Godavari district this Sunday, marking a significant engagement with the community she adopted for integrated development.
Minister's Day-Long Engagement and Key Launches
Upon her arrival at the village's digital building at 11 am, Sitharaman will first participate in the Mann Ki Baat programme. Following this, a key highlight of her visit will be the inauguration of drone and artificial intelligence (AI) skill development training programmes. These initiatives are being implemented under the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) wing of Cyient Private Limited.
The minister's schedule also includes the distribution of livelihood cheques to villagers. To encourage local talent, she will present prizes to winners of student competitions. These include painting contests on the theme of 'Viksit Bharat – Digital India' and singing competitions centered on 'Vande Mataram'.
Infrastructure Review and Village Transformation
An important part of the visit involves Sitharaman inspecting the Gabion Wall structure, a project constructed under the supervision of Deloitte. This inspection underscores the focus on sustainable infrastructure.
After a lunch break in Narasapuram, the Finance Minister will participate in a programme at the Kavitam temple before returning to Vijayawada.
Sustained Development and Coastal Protection
Sitharaman adopted PM Lanka village several years ago and has since been directly involved in its holistic progress. West Godavari Collector C Nagarani emphasized that CSR initiatives, combined with government schemes, are pivotal in transforming PM Lanka into a model habitat.
A major ongoing project for the village's long-term safety is an anti-erosion embankment stretching 1,000 metres. With an estimated cost of ₹13.72 crore, this project aims to robustly prevent coastal erosion. Collector Nagarani reported that the project has already achieved approximately 55 percent physical progress. Authorities are fast-tracking the work to ensure completion by the end of January 2026.
This visit highlights the continued push for rural development through a synergistic approach involving public policy, corporate partnership, and community engagement.
