Coastal city celebrates 70th I-Day with pomp and gaiety

Mangaluru, Aug 15: The 70th Independence Day celebrations were observed with a spirit of nationalism and patriotism by Dakshina Kannada administration as people gathered at Nehru Maidan, in the heart of the city to witness the unfurling of the National Flag on Monday.

Minister of Forests, Environment and Ecology and district in-charge minister B Ramanath Rai hoisted the Indian tricolour at Nehru Maidan and received the guard of honour before inspecting the parade.
The district level I-Day celebrations saw a colourful march past by platoons of Karnataka State Reserve Police, District Armed Reserve Police, civil police, traffic police, home guards, fire and emergency services personnel, NCC Army wing (senior), NCC Naval wing (senior), NCC Air wing (senior), scouts and guides and other battalions.

The parade was followed by a cultural programme by around 200 students at the Maidan.

Compared to previous years, this time the district administration had increased the security measures at the programme venue. More police personnel were posted to frisk people and also keep a watch on those entering the venue.

There were three separate entrances to the venue. The entrance from the main gate opposite the office of the Police Commissioner was restricted to VVIPs. People could enter the venue either from the gate behind the football ground or from the opening created opposite the PWD office.

Facilities were also created for better viewing of the programme. People could watch the parade by sitting on the either sides of the Maidan.

Delivering the Independence Day address Mr Rai listed various achievements of departments in implementing government's flagship schemes.

"The government has made a conscious effort to reach out to all sections of society under the plank of social justice and taken a decision to implement string of schemes that touches the lives of the people in myriad ways," the minister said.

An important step in this direction is the decision to hold Janaspandana programmes in all taluks of the district in a phased manner. This is aimed at listening to grievances of people at their doorsteps and also bringing the administration to them, he said.

Under the 'Podi' free campaign, revenue department has taken steps to carry out survey of 30,000 survey numbers in 51 villages to ensure that the land records are free from errors and do not inconvenience people.

Steps have been taken to further decentralize the process of distributing official documents such as pahani (RTC), caste and income certificates that were hitherto being distributed at the taluk and hobli levels, at the gram panchayat level.

The government has achieved this by setting up Bapuji Seva Kendras in 2,000 gram panchayats and by providing some of the services to the people through these centres. The number of services will be expanded in a phased manner.

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