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Udupi, Aug 15: The 70th Independence Day was celebrated with patriotic fervour at Mahatma Gandhi grounds, Beedinagudde here on Monday August 15. The programme was organized by the Udupi district administration.

Udupi district in-charge minister Pramod Madhwaraj hoisted the Tricolour and received the guard of honour from the district police, the reserve armed guards, fire brigade, home guards, NCC, scouts and guides and service cops, who also showcased a colourful march-past.

In his speech, Pramod Madhwaraj said, "After Independence, Jawaharlal Nehru introduced pro-poor policies which Devaraj Urs followed in Karnataka. Present Karnataka state government has special social concern and accordingly we, under the leadership of chief minister Siddaramaiah, are continuing the pro-poor policies.

"As many as 7,55,514 below poverty line (BPL) families are provided with rice and wheat under Anna Bhagya scheme. Palm oil, kerosene and salt are supplied to people at subsidised rates for which we are spending Rs 2.11 crore every month. Rs 63 crore has been spent in the district so far for this purpose. Now only 4 parameters are followed to obtain BPL card unlike in the past where 14 parameters were followed.

"More than 43,000 persons receive pension under social security scheme. Rs 199.58 crore has been spent for this purpose in three years. More than Rs 3 core has been spent for funeral and wedding help.

"As many as 623 revenue adalats were held and more than 30,710 cases relating to pahani documents have been solved. Rs 22 crore has been spent to provide milk to 3,90,342 children in schools, and 4,034 children have received fees reimbursement worth Rs 4.56 crore under Right to Education scheme. 59,665 children have received shoes and socks Rs 1.46 crore in government schools. Rs 47.12 core has been spent for various school programmes including for girl child, SCST and other schemes.

"Rs 7.30 crore has been spent for the welfare of schedule tribe and Rs 80 lac was pent for the community hall for them," Madhwaraj said.
"Rs 100 crore has been sanctioned for the year 2016-17 for the small loans and self employment loans for minorities. A Rs 5.30 crore proposal to build 432 small mini dams under Paschima Vahini scheme has been sent to the government,

"Fishermen owning 1,650 mechanised boats have received subsidised diesel money worth Rs 63.19 core directly into their accounts. 198 new licences have been issued for new boats and 91 boats which did not obtain licences earlier have been issued legal documents. Traditional boat owner s will receive subsidy of Rs 30,000 if they go for mechanised boats. This year 200 fisherfolk will get such help to the tune of Rs 60 lac. Various developmental activities pertaining to fishing industry are held in Gangolli and Kundapur ports also for which Rs 165 crore will be spent.

"A synthetic track with an expenditure of 3.5 crore will be built at Ajjarakad ground."Also, 54.45 kilometres state highway at a cost of Rs 46.32 crore and 117.73 kilometres district road with an outlay of Rs 57 core and also some other roads are being developed. As many as 19 bridges with a budget of Rs 42 crore will also be built this year.

"Manipal, Ambagilu, Udyavar Malpe road will be widened to 4 lane this year at some points with an expenditure of Rs 1.4 crore.
"I have taken special interest after I was made district-in-charge minister and I have taken initiatives in the direction of preventing sea erosion. I have spent Rs 3 crore for that purpose. Special schemes have been taken up for the development of Udupi city by providing additional facilities.
Special care will be taken in the water supply and drainage programmes taking into account the future of 30 more years. Rs 13 crore has been sanctioned for the development of Kaup. A public library with a budget of Rs 5.12 crore will be built in Ajjarakad," he said.

"I thank all the people including educational institutes which have contributed a lot for the development of Udupi district," he added.A colourful and vibrant cultural programme was performed by four schools.During the occasion, Madhwaraj also planted a sapling symbolically under Koti Vruksha Abhiyan at the MGM campus.

Top scorers in SSLC and PUC examinations of this year were felicitated. A handbook on ’Freedom Movement of India’ was released on the occasion.The minister also paid his tributes to martyrs at Martyrs Memorial Ground in Ajjarkad.

Deputy commissioner C T Venkatesh, superintendent of police K T Balakrishna, city municipality council commissioner Manjunathayya, tahsildar Maheshchandra, zilla panchayat president Dinakar Babu, chairman of KSDL Veronica Cornelio, CMC president Meenakshi Madhav Bannanje, zilla panchayat president Priayanka Mary Francis and others present.