Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (DV)

Mangaluru, Aug 15: Several photographers and videographers from various media from across the city and the district on Monday August 15 boycotted the Independence Day celebration at Nehru Maidan, over not being allowed inside for 'security reasons'.

Like every year, photographers, videographers along with reporters from various media flocked to Nehru Maidan for the celebration organized by the district administration. However, unlike past years, this time the media persons were subjected to security checks and questions, which annoyed the senior scribes.

After the security check, all the media persons were allowed to cover the programme, but soon, the videographers and photographers were stopped by the police from crossing a specific line, which was non-existent so far, and which was not communicated to them in advance.

The videographers and photographers, exasperated over this new rule, decided to boycott the event and walked out soon after the flag-hoisting ceremony.

A while later, when district in-charge minister Ramanath Rai emerged outside, the boycotting mediapersons surrounded him and demanded to know why they were being stopped from covering the event beyond a certain boundary.

"We have been covering the event from past several years, but only this time we were subjected to such treatment. The district administration or the information department should have at least informed us about this in advance and made arrangements to provide passes, or made special arrangements from where we could cover the event," they said.

In response, Rai said that the DC was new and there were certain protocols to be followed.

Unconvinced, the media persons replied that it was not just the DC's responsibility, but of the entire district administration and insisted that if security was the concern, passes should have been arranged for authorized media representatives.

Rai then promised that he would ensure such incidents do not occur in future.

Rai outlines achievements, plans

Delivering the 70th Independence Day address after hoisting the Tricolour and accepting the guard of honour, Rai outlined a number of achievements of the state government and future plans for the district.

"Our government is determined to provide social justice to people of all classes. Several programmes have been implemented for the welfare of the people in this regard. Under Anna Bhagya programme, Rs 44 crore has been spent annually for the benefit of 2.18 lac. Under Manaswini scheme, Rs 19.46 lac has been spent on 3,654 beneficiaries, and under Ksheera Bhagya, Rs 2.92 lac has been spent on providing protein-rich milk to students.

"Students from backward classes who did not get opportunities after metric have been given provisions under Vidyasiri scheme. This year, Rs 6.64 crore has been spent on 13,254 students under this scheme in the district.

"To support fishing in the district, programmes such as Mathsyashraya, Mathya Mahila Swalambhana Mathsya Vahini and fishermen's relief fund have been started. Under Rajiv Gandhi health programme, 268 people above poverty line have obtained benefits worth Rs 1.25 crore.

"Under Mukhyamantri Santwana Harish Yojana for accident victims, 1,419 people in the district have gained benefits worth 35.63 lac," he added.

"We have also planned to build a new block at district Wenlock hospital with 176 beds at a cost of Rs 15 crore. Under Gruha Bhagya programme, housing facilities worth Rs 2.4 crore will be provided for Mangaluru civic workers. Under Hosa Belaku programme, already 12 lac LED bulbs have been distributed to consumers in DK.

"In rural areas, those who have built houses on government land are being provided title deeds under 94 c, and in urban areas, we have already received 10,000 applications under 94 cc.

"Rs 96.57 crore has been approved for runway extension at Mangalore Internation Airport, and Rs 50 crore has been approved for road extension from Maravoor bridge to the airport.

"Approval has also been granted for works like construction of DC complex at a cost of Rs 41 crore at Padil, Ambedkar Bhavan at a cost of Rs 12 crore, and international swimming pool at a cost of Rs 5 crore," he added.

"Several services like providing RTC, caste certificates are now being provided at gram panchayat levels under Bapuji Seva Kendra. We have already opened such centres in nearly 2,000 gram panchayats. Also work is in progress on constructing 148 clean drinking water units.

"Under Gram Vikas Yojana 34 villages in the district have been selected and a grant of Rs 26.25 crore has been approved for their development. Under Namma Grama Namma Raste programme, nearly 392 km of roads have been constructed," Rai said.

"For the welfare of minorities, Rs 4.68 crore has been spent on 136 beneficiaries under Bidai programme

"In Dakshina Kannada, 303 Koraga families have been provided houses at a cost of Rs 5.64 crore.
Under women empowerment programme, a grant of Rs 37.18 lac has been provided to 3,663 self-help groups," he said.

He also informed that based on a survey under Swachch Bharat Mission, Dakshina Kannada has been declared open defecation-free district.

As many as 18 teams participated in the march past. The first place was won by NCC Air Wing junior squad while the second place went to NCC Air Wing senior squad.

Cultural programmes will be held later in the afternoon.