Rich tributes paid to Ambedkar

Vijayawada: The Krishna district Collector Dr Buddha Prakash M Jyothi led the 123rd birth anniversary celebrations of Dr B R Ambedkar in the district on Sunday. The District Collector garlanded the statue of Dr Ambedkar in the district headquarters town, Machilipatnam.

The district Joint Collector, P Usha Kumari, SP J Prabhakara Rao, local MLA Perni Nani and several other senior officials from the district administration took part in the celebrations. A The Collector also participated in the celebrations at Ambedkar Bhavan in the town and distributed assets to the beneficiaries, organised by the Social Welfare Department.

Speaking on the occasion, the District Collector asked the youth to concentrate on education to scale new heights in life. He said that the government after Independence had provided several facilities in the schools and brought education closer to people.

He said these facilities were not available in 30 to 40 years ago and even before when leaders like Dr Ambedkar studied. He said that Dr Ambedkar had emerged as the world's greatest leader only because of education, he said. He asked the youth to make use of the facilities and get better education. He also asked them to make use of the welfare programmes being extended to them by the government.

Zilla Parishad chief executive officer L Vijayachandar, Additional Joint Collector N Ramesh Kumar, senior officials K Sivashankara Rao, A Sudarshanam, Lakshmi Durga, and others were present. In Vijayawada, the Municipal Commissioner G S Panda Das, garlanded Dr Ambedkar's statue at Kalakshetram and paid rich tributes. He recalled the contribution of the late leader for the nation, particularly for the uplift of the weaker sections.

The Bharatiya Janata Party former national president, M Venkaiah Naidu, along with other party leaders garlanded the statue of Dr Ambedkar and paid tributes. He said that the country needed leaders like Dr Ambedkar now and called upon the youth to imbibe his leadership qualities and commitment to the nation.

The Telugu Desam urban president, K Nagul Meera, party senior leaders Dr T Premanath, Bonda Umamaheswara Rao, K Hanumantha Rao and others garlanded the portrait of Dr Ambedkar and paid tributes. A The leaders said that Dr Ambedkar had set direction to the nation through his vision and patriotism.

The Vijayawada East legislator, Yalamanchili Ravi, participated in the Ambedkar Jayanthi celebrations organsied by the Bhimarao Social Welfare Society at the SKCV Children's Trust Home at Bhavanipuram. He distributed fruits and sweets to the children in the home and greeted them on the occasion.

At Andhra Rathna Bhavan, the city Congress headquarters, the party leaders garlanded the portrait of Dr Ambedkar and paid rich tributes. The city Congress president A Sivanagendra, working president, Meesala Rajeswara Rao and other leaders were present.