A parade by police personnel and National Cadet Corps cadets and a dance presentation by students marked the 66th Republic Day celebrations here on Monday. District in-charge Minister B. Ramanath Rai unfurled the tri-colour.
Mr. Rai underlined the importance of the Constitution and the secular fabric of India. He said the State government was committed to the upliftment of the backward classes.
Later, he reviewed the parade of various units of the district police.The Navy senior wing of National Cadet Corps and the Army junior wing of National Cadet Corps were adjudged the first and second best participants in the parade later.
The district administration honoured six government servants with Sarvottama awards for their exemplary performances. Hukrapa Naik, Group D employee, Community Health Centre, Sullia; Krishna, cook, Circuit House, Kadri, Mangaluru; K. Mohammed, Revenue Inspector, Mangaluru City Corporation; Kanthappa Gowda, First Division Assistant, Block Education Officers’ office, Puttur; Jean Mary Tavro, Tahsildar, town survey office, Mangaluru and D.V. Rajesh, District Surveillance Officer, Health and Family Welfare Department, Mangaluru, were honoured.
The parade and felicitation programmes were followed by dance performance by students of schools from the city. A rally of vintage cars also enhanced the ambience of the celebrations.
Deputy Commissioner A.B. Ibrahim and Superintendent of Police Sharanappa S.D, among others, were present.
Unity in diversity
In Udupi, cultural programmes, focussing on rural development, patriotism and unity in diversity, added a dash of colour to the celebrations at the MGM College grounds.
Five government officials were given the Sarvottama awards. They are: Rajendra Bekal, Women and Child Welfare officer, Gayatri Nayak, Kundapur tahsildar, Radhakrishna Adiga, Assistant Director in Planning Department, Fahmida Begum, Inspector at Deputy Commissioner’s office, and Ramananda Puranik, Panchayat Development Officer at Yembattu Badagabettu village. There was a marchpast by students of various schools and colleges.
Meanwhile, Manipal University celebrated Republic Day at KMC Greens. The programme covered all aspects of celebrations with clock-work precision.
