Kerala celebrated the nation’s 68th Independence Day on Friday with gaiety, patriotic fervor and enthusiasm. Chief Minister Oommen Chandy led the celebrations by unfurling the Tricolour at the Central Stadium in the State capital, Thiruvananthapuram, and taking the salute at a march past by personnel from the various forces.
Greeting Keralites on the occasion of the special day, the Chief Minister announced five new programmes which his Congress-led UDF Government was intending to implement in its remaining two years. The main programme among these was the one to start centres at all district hospitals for providing free cancer treatment.
According to Chandy, cancer treatment centres would open at all district hospitals for which fund would be raised through public-private participation. Another programme envisaged construction of 25,000 houses, each costing Rs 300,000, for the homeless in the State. He also said that that the State would achieve total e-literacy in the next two years.
The Independence Day celebrations at different district headquarters were led by Chandy’s Cabinet colleagues. In Kochi, the national flag was unfurled by Public Works Minister VK Ibrahim Kunju while Revenue Minister Adoor Prakash opened the celebrations in Kollam. The flag was unfurled by Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala in Alappuzha.
In Kannur, Urban Affairs and Backward People’s Welfare Minister Manjalamkuzhy Ali was shown black flags when he reached there to inaugurate the celebrations. The black flags were waved at the Minister by Adivasis belonging to Kerala State Scheduled Tribes Samajam protesting against the Government’s apathy towards solving their housing problems.
The Southern Naval Command celebrated the Independence Day at its headquarters, Naval Base, in Kochi with a ceremonial parade reviewed by Vice Admiral SPS Cheema, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief. The Admiral also paid floral tributes at the War Memorial and recalled the great sacrifices made by the predecessors to secure freedom for the country.
Independence Day was also celebrated at all main centres, district headquarters, educational institutions, offices of political parties, government offices, etc in the State. School students, forces like the police and Fire and Rescue Force, NCC, Scouts and Guides and other establishments also celebrated the special day.