Mangalore, Aug 15: The 68th Independence Day celebrations were observed with a spirit of nationalism and patriotism in Dakshina Kannada as people gathered at Nehru Maidan to witness the unfurling of the National Flag on the occasion of Independence Day on Friday.
Minister of Forests, Environment and Ecology and district in-charge minister B Ramanath Rai hoisted the Indian tricolour at the maidan, before receiving the guard of honour.
The district celebrations at the maidan 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.
In his Independence Day address, Mr Rai said that the state government had approved several important developmental projects for Dakshina Kannada and projects worth Rs 35 crores had been sanctioned in various towns. Basic amenities will be upgraded in every town and city in the district, he said.
“Dakshina Kannada was the first in the state to officially recognise transgenders as a sexual minority community, by providing them identity cards and bringing them to the mainstream society. Under the Maitri scheme, they are given monthly allowances and workshops are conducted by self-help groups to empower them.”
He said that relief programmes for Endosulfan-affected victims were running successfully in the district, with distribution of identity cards and provision of free treatment in hospitals. Two day-care centres for Endosulfan victims have been newly set up in Uppinangady and Panaje in the district, he said.
He also spoke on other developmental programmes and schemes for the benefit of farmers, areca growers affected by fruit rot disease and people from financially-backward classes.
“The central government had released funds of Rs 13.73 crore for tourism development and improvement of beaches along Sultan Battery, Suratkal, Ullal, Someshwar and Talapady. The construction works on a jetty at the fishing port is in the final stage and a berthing jetty at Bengre is in initial phase of construction. The third phase of port developmental work has been taken up at a cost of Rs 57.6 crore,” he said.
Cadets of NCC Army wing (Junior) bagged the first prize for the best parade, while cadets of NCC Air wing (Senior) bagged the second prize.
On the occasion, retired Vice Admiral B R Rao was felicitated by the district administration for his services to the nation, while Wing Commander Derril Castelino was posthumously felicitated.
Around 20 achievers of the Population Census 2011 of India from Dakshina Kannada such as Harish Kumar, Pramila, Manikya, Kushalappa, Dayanand, Stany Mascarenhas and several others were also felicitated on the occasion.
Under the Integrated Tribal Development Programme (ITDP), autorickshaws and four-wheelers were handed over to unemployed youth from scheduled tribes.
DK Deputy Commissioner A B Ibrahim, IGP (Western Range) Amrit Paul, Mangalore City Commissioner of Police R Hithendra, DK Superintendent of Police S D Sharanappa, MLAs J R Lobo and Moidin Bava, MP Nalin Kumar Kateel, MLC Ivan D'Souza, Mayor of Mangalore Mahabala Marla, Zilla Panchayat CEO Tulasi Maddineni and others were present.
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