Mounesh Vishwakarma

Daijiworld Media Network – Bantwal

Bantwal, Aug 15: With opportunities to showcase talent growing alongside intense competition, young people must seize every available opportunity and help India emerge as a strong competitor on the global stage, Bantwal MLA Rajesh Naik said on Saturday.

“If the nation has to become strong, its youth must be strong,” Naik said, addressing the taluk-level Independence Day celebrations held at the Bantwal Taluk Office, where he hoisted the national flag.

Naik said the mobile phone had become an inseparable part of everyday life. Citing a study, he said people spend an average of four hours a day engaged with their phones. “The country is changing and the world is becoming smaller. But amid this, it is worrying that human relationships are becoming increasingly distant,” he said.

Rithvik Pradhan, an eighth-standard student of Sajipamooda Government School, delivered the keynote address at the programme.

Buda president Baby Kunder said the country had attained freedom through the struggle and sacrifices of freedom fighters. He urged children to develop determination and clear goals in life and cultivate an attitude of loving everyone without hatred.

Bantwal Tahsildar Manjunath said the country had won freedom through the tireless efforts of freedom fighters. The courage, discipline and dedication of soldiers should serve as an example to everyone, he said.

He also called for greater focus on environmental protection and urged every citizen to contribute to the country’s progress. He stressed the need to preserve unity while ensuring continued assistance to people at the grassroots and in rural areas.

A special moment at the celebration was the felicitation of Manvith, a fifth-standard student of Narikombu Government Higher Primary School, for his presence of mind in averting a possible mishap at his school. His parents, Suresh and Jayanti, were also honoured.

Prizes were presented to students who won the drawing competition.

Guarantee Implementation Committee taluk president V. Jayanti Poojary and Bantwal Block Education Officer Chandrappa were present.

Bantwal Taluk Panchayat executive officer Sachin Kumar welcomed the gathering, while Avinash D'Souza, a teacher at Kallige-Netrakere Dakshina Kannada Zilla Government Higher Primary School, compered the programme.

Deputy Tahsildars Narendranath Mithoor, Naveen Kumar Benjanapadavu, Shivaprasad, Diwakar Muguliya, Ashif Itbal, Prateesh and Rashmi N. Kudlu; Revenue Inspectors M.N. Ravi and Prashanth Shetty; and Vishukumar, subject supervisor of the National Festivals Celebration Committee, were among the taluk-level officials present.

The formal proceedings were followed by a colourful cultural programme featuring performances by students from various schools across Bantwal taluk.