Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (MD)
Mangaluru, Jan 26: The 66th Republic Day was celebrated in a grand manner by the district administration at Nehru Maidan here on Monday, January 26.
The National Flag was hoisted by district incharge minsiter B Ramanath Rai followed by the rendition of the National Anthem and “Negila Yogi”, a song dedicated to farmers.
In his address, B Ramanath Rai, said that India, which is the biggest democracy of the world, has succeeded in achieving unity in diversity in spite of multifarious cultures, languages, and lifestyles spread over its 29 states and six union territories.
"The vision of our forefathers who drafted out constitution including Dr B R Ambedkar, gets fulfilled when every capable person in the nation gets work. Our country has carved out a niche for itself in the field of education, information technology, bio technology, space technology etc and is considered as one of the strong nations in the world," he added.
Rai asserted that Karnataka government is committed to take the administration to the people and make them satisfied. He said that the state government has laid added emphasis on the welfare of scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, minorities, women, farmers, senior citizens, people with physical disability, and rural agricultural labourers.
"We plan to build district offices complex at Padil inthe city to bring all the district level offices under one roof. Our revenue adalats have been successful in disposing off cases of land disputes all over the district. We have taken steps to allot house sites to the poor through powers delegated to tahsildars.
"Road development initiatives have achieved betterment of roads like Mani-Mysore road and Shiradi Ghat road where work has been undertaken," he added.
"Joint survey by revenue and forest department has been undertaken to settle the issue of families located within forests. We have been taking steps to remove misgivings about Kasturirangan report. The state government has acted to demarcate present gram panchayats and create new ones wherever found necessary.
"The government has also been initiating steps to sanction ambitious 'Paschima Vahini' project envisaging construction of dams across rivers flowing westwards to make water available to people even during summer months," he explained.
A highlight of the celebrations was the colourful march-past by various troupes including Karnataka reserved police, CAR/DAR, civil police, traffic police, women police, home guards, fire brigades, NCC army (seniors), NCC naval (seniors), NCC air wing (seniors), NCC army (juniors), scouts, guides, road safety patrol (girls), Bharat Seva Dal (girls), road safety patrol (boys) and district police band. In the march-past competition, NCC naval (seniors) won the first place and NCC air wing (juniors) won the second place.
Sarvotham Seva Award was conferred on Ugrappa Nayak, Krishna, K Mohammed, Kanthappa Gowda, Jean Marie Tauro and Dr Rajesh.
In essay competition organized for schools, Preksha Shetty bagged the first prize and Jasmitha and Manu Shreyas won second and third prizes respectively. Vimarsha won the first prize in drawing competition and T Chethan and Prasanna bagged the second and third places respectively.
Splash team along with 92.7 Big FM enthralled the gathering by drawing a portrait of the National Flag in just five minutes.
Deputy commissioner A B Ibrahim, Mayor Mahabala Maarla, Mangaluru MLA's J R Lobo and B A Mohiuddin Bawa, superintendent of police Dr Sharanappa S D, Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy president Roy Castelino, MLC Ivan D'Souza, MP Nalin Kumar Kateel, Karnataka Beary Sahitya Academy president Mohammad Haneef, Campco president Konkodi Padmanabha and others were present on this occasion.