Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU Aug 15: Like other parts of the country, 66th Independence Day was celebrated at all the District Headquarters of Jammu province with patriotic fervour and zeal with Ministers unfurling the National Tricolour and taking salute at the march past from the contingents of security forces and students of various schools.
Jammu: Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand unfurled the tricolour at the Mini Stadium Parade and paid homage to great leaders, who sacrificed their lives for the freedom of the country.
Speaking on the occasion, he highlighted the measures taken by the Coalition Government under the leadership of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to ensure accountability in its functioning.
“The Accountability Commission has been made functional and process for complete constitution of State Vigilance Commission is also under progress. The Right to Information Act is being implemented under close supervision of State Information Commission and Public Service Guarantee Act has infused new lease of life in delivery of services directly related with the common man”, he said.
He said that the State has made considerable progress during the last six years on various fronts. “While on one side, we were able to minimize fear in the mind of common man, on the other hand different progressive measures and developmental schemes were taken up”, he added.
“There has been a considerable stress on education and health sector in our State. Various schools have been upgraded under SSA and RMSA. Several new Degree Colleges and Polytechnic colleges have been opened and made functional. There has been liberal funding from Central Government in the health sector in our state, particularly under NRHM”, he further said.
Poonch: Minister for Revenue, Relief and Rehabilitation, Raman Bhalla hoisted the National Flag at Sports Stadium here and took salute at an impressive march past presented by the JKP, JKAP, CRPF, NCC students and children of various educational institutions of the district.
Complimenting the people on 66th Independency Day celebrations, the Minister recalled the sacrifices made by the leaders who laid their lives for liberating the country from the foreign yoke including Mahatma Gandhi, Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru, Bhagat Singh and Subash Chander Bose and numerous freedom struggle heroes for attaining freedom.
He said it was sheer love and devotion for the country that inspired the leaders of freedom movement to make supreme sacrifices. “It is now prime duty and responsibility of every citizen, especially the youth to protect and safeguard this hard won freedom and ensure that the country flourish in every filed of activity”, he added.
Mr Bhalla called upon all the citizens of nation to remain united to thwart the nefarious designs of elements inimical to peace and tranquillity. He said like other parts of India, Jammu and Kashmir has also a unique and diverse socio-religious fabric, adding that each one of us should contribute towards preserving the exemplary feature of unity in diversity for which India is known worldwide.
On the occasion, the students of Govt. Girls Higher Secondary School, S D Sabha, Govt. Degree College, Nanak Academy, Govt. Girls Middle School, Christ High School, DAV Nagbani, Govt. Boys Higher Secondary School of Poonch district presented colour cultural items which were highly applauded by the audience.
Similarly, Independence Day was celebrated at Degree College, Mendhar where MLA, Rafiq Husssain unfurled the tricolour. At tehsil Mandi, MLA, Poonch-Haveli, Ajaz Ahmed Khan unfurled the National Flag.
Rajouri: Minister for Health, Horticulture and Floriculture Sham Lal Sharma unfurled the tricolour at Police Lines here.
Greeting the citizens on the day of national pride, the Minister remembered the great sacrifices of freedom fighters who laid down their lives for liberating the country from the foreign yoke.
Lauding the role of Central Government, the Minister said under the able guidance of Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, State has got liberal funding for development projects. He said various centrally sponsored schemes, like MNREGA, JNRURM have been a boon for employment and have helped raise most modern infrastructure in the State.
Mr Sham said the Coalition Government led by Omar Abdullah has created history by successfully holding Panchayat elections after a gap of three decades. The Minister said time has come to look beyond Government employment and to encourage entrepreneurship among youth SKEWPY has been launched by the Government. He called upon youth to take maximum benefit from the scheme and start own ventures.
Samba: Minister for Industries and Commerce Surjit Singh Slathia unfurled the National Flag and took salute at an impressive march past at Kehli Ground.
On the occasion, Slathia recalled the supreme sacrifices of the great leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, Pt Jawahar Lal Nehru and Sher-e-Kashmir Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, Bhagat Singh who fought for achieving freedom from the imperialism. He called for safeguarding sovereignty and integrity of the nation.
“Let us bow our head in memory of all those brave jawans and all our brave citizens who have sacrificed their lives for the cause of the unity, integrity and progress of the country,” he said.
The Minister while listing landmark achievements of the Coalition Government appealed the unemployed youths of the State to avail benefit of Sher-e- Kashmir Employment and Welfare Programme for Youth (SKEWPY). He also sought people’s cooperation to solve the problem of unemployment, adding that parents should motivate their wards to opt for self-employment ventures.
Udhampur: Independence Day was celebrated with high esteem, patriotic spirit and great enthusiasm at District, Tehsil, Block and Niabat headquarters by saluting and hoisting Tricolour and paying tributes to the frontline leaders and heroes of freedom struggle.
The main function was held in the premises of Boys PG Degree College where the Minister for Technical Education, Youth Services and Sports and Medical Education, R S Chib hoisted the National Flag and took salute at an impressive march past presented by the jawans of JKP, Forest Protection Force, NCC students and children of various educational institutions.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr Chib said that like other districts of the State, district Udhampur has also achieved milestones in different sectors. In education sector, the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) is functioning successfully and it helps to strengthen the infrastructure of elementary schools as well to provide employment to the local youths in the district.
The Minister said that the Special Task Force, Jammu has approved six major projects for district Udhampur to the tune of Rs 68.62 crore which include improvement and upgradation of Ramnagar-Basantgrah-Dudu-Latti Raod, construction of disaster management store, solid waste management project, hostel for Gaddi and Sippy students, development of Dalsar Lake, Ramnagar and delinking of Mansar lake.
The students of various educational institutions presented a scintillating cultural programme which kept the audience spell bound. The chief guest also distributed trophies, certificates of merit among the students who excelled in academics, sports activities and cultural performances. Rajiv Sharma of Udhampur district who had scaled Mount Everest was also honoured on the occasion. The Minister also announced Rs 42,000 for the prize winning teams of different educational institutions.
Reasi: Minister for Higher Education, Employment and Labour, Abdul Gani Malik unfurled the tricolour and took salute at the march past presented by contingents drawn from CRPF, JKP (DPL), STC Talwara, IRP, NCC Degree College and various schools of the town.
Speaking on the occasion, the Minister recalled the sacrifices of great leaders in attaining freedom. He threw light on various achievements made by the country and Jammu and Kashmir since 1947 in various sector.
The students presented colourful cultural programme based on the themes of patriotism Dogra culture, Punjabi Gidda, Sarswati Bandana, Dogri folk song and others, which were highly appreciated by the audience. The Minster distributed prizes among the participants.
Kathua: The 66th Independence Day was celebrated with patriotic zeal, enthusiasm and national fervour at Sports Stadium where MoS (Independent Charge) Cooperatives, Printing and Stationary & Elections, Dr Manohar Lal Sharma hoisted the National flag.
Speaking on the occasion, he recalled the contributions of father of the nation Mahatma Gandhi, and great personalities like Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru, Sardar Vallab Bhai Patel. He paid tributes to freedom fighters, who laid down their lives for freedom struggle of the country. The Minister lauded the Army and Para military forces for their role in safeguarding the country from internal and external threats. The Minister also lauded Jammu and Kashmir police for their exemplary devotion while maintaining law and order even in difficult times.
Students of various schools presented colourful cultural programme and displayed physical exercises on the occasion. Later, the Minister gave away prizes and trophies to the performers. Minister also distributed wheelchairs and hearing aids among the disabled person.
Kishtwar: Minister of State for Forest, Transport, CAPD and Power, Shabir Ahmed Khan hoisted the National tri-colour and took salute at the march past presented by contingents comprising CRPF, JKP, JKAP, Forest Protection Force, College, NCC cadets and students of various Government and private schools of the town in Chowgan ground.
Addressing the gathering, the Minister paid rich tributes to the martyrs of the motherland who sacrificed their lives during the struggle for Independence from the Britishers. He stressed for following the path of martyrs for all round development of the country.
Referring, to developmental scenario of Jammu and Kashmir, the Minister said that in spite of hostile conditions of 22 years, the State is marching ahead in all sectors under the leadership of the Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah. He expressed gratitude to Prime Minister and UPA Chairperson for their support to the Coalition Government in taking its development agenda to a logical end.
Ramban: Minister of State for Haj and Aquaf, Aijaz Ahmed Khan, unfurled the National Flag and took salute at the march-past of the contingents drawn from various Government as well as private schools of Ramban district and JKP, CRPF, IRP and NCC cadets.
The Minister paid rich tributes to the freedom fighters, who sacrificed their lives and fought selflessly to free their motherland from the clutches of British tyranny.
While addressing the gathering, the Minister asked the people to imbibe in themselves high ethos of great freedom fighters who liberated the nation from the Britishers without caring for the comfort of their own lives. He emphasized the need of encouraging moral and patriotic values among the young generations on whom shoulders lies the onus of developing a strong and progressed nation.
The Minister announced Rs 11000 for the students and cadets and distributed prizes among the participants. MLA Ramban, Ashok Kumar announced Rs 8 lakh out of CDF for purchase of traveller ambulance for the district. The DDC also announced Rs 5000 for the students who presented cultural programme.
Doda: District Development Commissioner, Doda, Farooq Ahmed, unfurled the tri-color and took salute of the march past contingents of JKP, JKAP, CRPF, FPF, NCC and School Children at Doda.
The main function was organized at District Police Lines Doda, which witnessed a huge participation of public.
Speaking on the occasion, the DDC said that various developmental projects are under construction in the district and focused attention is being given on development of priority sectors like education and health especially rural and remote pockets.
A colorful cultural programme was presented by the school children depicting diverse and unique cultural heritage of Jammu and Kashmir, which kept the audience spellbound.
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