Patriotism was amply visible at the official Republic Day celebrations conducted by the district administration at the Police Parade Ground here on Saturday.
Perfect formation
The police contingent, in its ceremonial best, showed the difference discipline makes. They marched in unison in perfect formation, saluting district Collector V. Seshadri, who was accompanied by city Police Commissioner B. Shivadhar Reddy.
The NCC cadets, who followed, looked like a motley bunch of press-ganged soldiers marching out of compulsion. The cadets made a vain effort to march in formation, showing their lack of application and discipline.
Students from a number of schools organised drills and sequences, playing them to some patriotic numbers ranging from Nanha Munha Rahi Hoon to AR Rahman’s Maa Tuje Salaam .
Students of Samskruti Global School, Ukkunagaram, displayed a sequence — pre-schoolers performing to Nanha Munna Rahi Hoon , high school students dancing to Taakat vatan ki hamse hain and then a group performing a patriotic dance.
The display covering most of the grounds was impressive. The performance by students ZP High School, Nadupuru, was impressive. The students of Vignan High School, Timmapuram, MPUP School from Laskhmivanipalem, Sacred Heart High School, and Presidential School, Seethammadhara, also performed well.
Win applause
Two ex-servicemen drew applause from the crowds for their daredevilry on motorcycles. The Collector then distributed merit certificates to 200 employees and social service organisations on the occasion. GVMC Commissioner M.V. Satyanarayana, DIG Visakha Range Swati Lakra, SP, Visakhapatnam Rural, G. Srinivas, a number of senior police officers and district officers, including Project Director of DWMA Satya Srinivas and General Manager, District Industries Centre, V.R. Vijayaraghava Naik, were present. Earlier, after unfurling the national flag, Mr. Seshadri listed the government’s performance in the district. He also touched upon the different schemes that were under implementation and spoke on their performance. He touched upon the performance of all departments, including irrigation, agriculture, animal husbandry, horticulture, social welfare, and woman and child welfare, among others. He also mentioned the different programmes being undertaken for the development of the city by the civic authorities.
