Patriotic fervour marks Independence Day fiesta

Warangal: The 72nd Independence Day was celebrated with gaiety and patriotic fervour across five districts – Warangal Urban, Rural, Mahabubabad, Jayashankar-Bhupalpally and Jangaon – on Wednesday. Cultural programmes and other events were also organised across all five districts.

Deputy Chief Minister Kadiyam Srihari, who hoisted the tri-colour National Flag at the Police Parade Grounds in Warangal, said after witnessing decades of struggle people in the region achieved Telangana.

“Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao, who led the separate Telangana agitation, has not disappointed the people. He not only led from the front but also introduced several welfare schemes that are now talk of the country,” Srihari said, referring to the strides being made on development front during the last four years.

Referring to Rythu Bandhu and Rythu Bima schemes, he said that the government’s focus is on agriculture. Firstly, the TRS government waived off crop loans to the tune of Rs 17,000 crore.

Besides ensuring seed and fertilisers supply, the government made 24X7 power supply possible to the farming sector. For the khariff season, the government has provided Rs 5,164 crore to 50.08 lakh farmers as part of farm assistance under Rythu Bandhu scheme.

On education front, the government so far established 570 Gurukul schools and 53 degree women residential colleges. This apart, plans are afoot to start 110 Gurukul schools for backward classes from the next academic year, the Deputy CM said.

Elsewhere in Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, addressing a gathering after hoisting the tricolour, Government Whip Palla Rajeshwar Reddy recalled the eminent personalities, Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Lal Bahadur Sastry, Ambedkar, who led the Indian Independence struggle.

“No other State in the country is spending Rs 40,000 crore for implementing welfare schemes,” Reddy said, heaping praise on KCR for making it possible. He said that purification of land records, which didn’t happen for several decades, is one among many successes the TRS government was able to achieve.

Speaker Sirikonda Madhusudhana Chary, who unfurled the national flag at Bhupalpally, said that the flagship programmes of the State government such as Mission Kakatiya, Mission Bhagiratha, Kalyana Lakshmi/Shadi Mubarak, Kanti Veulug, have become role models in the country. He also listed out the ongoing development works in Bhupalpally district.

Tribal Welfare Minister Ajmeera Chandulal said strides being made on all fronts have helped Telangana emerge as the number one State in the country besides its contribution towards the nation-building. He said revolutionary administrative reforms including increasing the number of gram panchayats, land purification exercise etc have begun to yield results.

Government Whip Bodakunti Venkateshwarlu, who was the chief guest at the Independence Day celebration in Jangaon, said that the State is witnessing all-round development under the leadership of KCR with public welfare on the top of the agenda.

Officials and employees who excelled in their duties have received appreciation certificates from the dignitaries. Casting aside their ailments, several freedom fighters expressed their enthusiasm by participating in the Independence Day celebrations across the five districts.