Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (DV)
Mangalore, Aug 15: The 68th Independence Day celebrations were held at Nehru Maidan here on Friday August 15 with pomp, colour and patriotic fervour.
District incharge minister Ramanath Rai hoisted the Tricolour after receiving the guard of honour.
In his address, he conveyed wishes to citizens, defence servicemen and others and recalled the sacrifices made by freedom fighters, especially Mahatma Gandhi who followed the principle of non-violence.
"On this auspicious occasion, we should resolve to build a united and progressive India and work towards preserving its intergrity. As citizens of this nation, we should strive to preserve its culture and heritage. We should break the barriers of caste, language and religion and live in peace and harmony while preserving the unity and intergrity of the nation," he appealed.
"It is also our responsibility to protect the poor and the homeless and provide justice to the suppressed classes in society," he added.
"Our government is committed to look after the welfare of the poor, protect the desititutes and provide justice to victims of social discrimination. We are committed to bringing about equal growth in all regions of the state and improving the lives of all people, irrespective of caste and community.
"By providing rice at Re 1 per kg to the poor and thereby distributing 30 kg of rice to each deserving family under Anna Bhagya scheme, we have assured food security of the poor. Also, to give fillip to milk producers in rural areas, we have given them subsidy of Rs 4 per litre. To enhance nourishment among children, along with mid-day meals, the government introduced Ksheera Bhagya scheme to provide free milk to school children thrice a week," he said.
"Our government's aim is to ensure economic progress together with social welfare of all citizens. We wish to make Karnataka a model state and make it the number one among all states. The government has taken steps to bring about inclusive development and get rid of regional differences," he added.
On issues related to the development of Dakshina Kannada, he said, "The government has postively responded to the needs of Dakshina Kannada district and worked towards its development. The governnment has approved several important development projects for DK, and released funds for the same. Basic amenities in every town will be upgraded and the city will be given good facilities."
Listing out the projects, he said, "Under chief minister's small and medium town development programme, projects worth Rs 35 crore in various towns of DK have been approved. The Wenlock hospital in the city became the first in country to open state-of-the-art peritonial dialysis centre. Mangalore has been inclded in the National Urban Health Mission scheme so as to provide better healthcare to citizens here.
"The relief prorgammes for Endosulfan victims have been highly successful in DK. We have been distributing ID cards to the victims since March this year. We have also taken steps to provide them free treatment in private hospitals. New care centres will be opened for them in Uppinangady and Panaje," he said.
"The third phase of port developement work has been taken up at a cost of Rs 57.6 crore. The work on jetty construction is in the final phase. A berthing jetty at Bengre is in the intial phase of construction," he added.
He also said that the central government had approved funds of Rs 13.73 crore for tourism development at Sultan Battery, Suratkal, Ullal, Someshwar and Talapady beaches and an action plan in this regard would be chalked out soon.
Some of the other works and achievements related to DK he listed were concreting work on 26 km of Shiradi ghat, inclusion of 74,374 beneficiaries in social security scheme, recognition of linguistic minorities in DK for the first time in the state and providing them ID cards and various benefits under Maithri scheme, provision of Rs 29 crore as compensation to 44,850 areca growers who suffered losses due to rains and rot disease, and various schemes to promote sports in the district, including construction of a world class swimming pool in the city.
On the occasion, retired vice admiral Bolar Radhakrishna Rao, and wing commander Darryl Castelino, the braveheart from Kinnigoli who was killed during Uttarakhand flood relief operations, were honoured. Leena Castelino accepted the honour on Darryl's behalf.
Twenty officers involved in 2011 census were also honoured, including assistant commissioner Harish Kumar, tahsildar C N Manjunath, Pramila, Manikya, Kushalappa and others, with gold silver and bronze medals.
Under the Integrated Tribal Development Program (ITDP), 13 auto rickshaws and four cars were given to persons from scheduled tribes. Ramanath Rai symbolically handed over keys to five beneficiaries on the occasion.
Also, academic achievers belonging to scheduled caste were presented computers.
A colourful march past was a special highlight, in which as many as 18 teams participated. NCC army (junior wing) won the first place while air wing (senior platoon) came second.