People in different parts of Garhwal celebrated 68th Republic Day on Thursday with Garhwal commissioner Vinod Sharma taking the salute of the police parade after hoisting the Tricolour at Kandoliya ground at an altitude of 7,000 feet in the regional headquarter Pauri.
Braving the cold, large number of people thronged the ground to witness the police parade followed by cultural programme presented by police line artistes, Nehru Yuva Kendra and different cultural groups.
The Garhwal commissioner also felicitated seven police personnel for commendable service. Addressing the gathering on the occasion, the commissioner dwelt on the saga of sacrifice and struggle that resulted in India becoming an Independent Republic.
Exhorting the people and Government employees to perform their duties with honesty, he said that development is a must for making the country strong. “India's present population comprises 65 per cent youth.We need to give them the right direction so as to enable them to become the leaders of development.
Teachers and guardians could play a important role in this regard. However we are also worried with a section of youth getting addicted to drugs.We must do everything possible to free them from the clutches of substance abuse and lead them in the direction of development—both individual and collective,” he said.
Various cultural presentations were also performed on the occasion by artistes of the Nehru Yuva Kendra and SGRR public school among others.
A play on the subject of substance abuse and deaddiction was also staged on the occasion.
The deputy inspector general of Garhwal range, Pushpak Jyoti, additional commissioner Harak Singh Rawat, District Magistrate Chandra Shekhar Bhatt, senior superintendent of police Mukhtar Mohsin, additional district magistrate Ramjee Sharan Sharma, chief development officer Vijay Kumar Jogdande and other officials of the district were also among those present on the occasion.