Panaji, Aug 15 (TOI): Addressing people on the eve of the Independence Day, chief minister Lakmikanth Parsekar said that the focus has been on improving the social and physical infrastructure of the state.

"In the past four years, our government has focused on holistic development that would give our people the environment and tools to actualize and manifest their individual potential for the collective good."

Governor Mrudula Sinha, while informing about her adopting five cities on a cleanliness mission with a target of making them model cities by the end of 2016, appealed to the people to make Goa the cleanest state.

"I have announced an award of 1 lakh to the cleanest city among the five by December, 2016," Sinha said.

The governor paid homage to the freedom fighters and said that India has become a model for development and lauded the election process.

"Currently, the government is working towards putting Goa on the international map for the right reasons. It is also trying to facilitate the people of Goa with welfare schemes and provide them comfort. Unity in diversity is our specialty and we should preserve this feeling for the posterity," she said. tnn