Rupesh Samant

Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji

Panaji, Nov 27: The Goa government has sought Rs 100 crore funding from the centre to host year-long activities to commemorate 60 years of the state’s liberation from Portuguese rule, chief minister Pramod Sawant said on Friday.

Sawant on Friday told reporters that a high-level committee headed by him and comprising of MLAs, businessmen, freedom fighters, historians and journalists have been formed to decide the plan for the year-long activity.

Goa was liberated from Portuguese rule on December 19, 1961.

“We have sought a fund of Rs 100 crore from the centre for this programme. We are sure that the union government will release the fund as we have asked for,” he said.

Sawant said that the year-long activity will showcase the art, culture and journey of the state in the last 60 years. He said that the roadshows would be held across the state and also in all the capital cities of all the states in the country.

As part of the initiative, the discussion will also be held on making Goa 'Swayampoorna' (self-sufficient) by involving various stakeholders.

During the year, the state government will also felicitate all the freedom fighters who are alive, and also posthumously who had struggled for the liberation. He said that those non-Goan freedom fighters who contributed toward Goa’s movement will also be felicitated by visiting their respective state.