Kerala on Thursday joined the nation in celebrating the 68th Republic Day with programmes reflecting patriotism and national fervor, organised at State capital Thiruvananthapuram, district and Taluk headquarters, bases of various forces, educational institutions, etc.
leading the State in celebrating the Republic Day, Governor P Sathasivam, who unfurled the Tricolor at the Central Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram, asked the people to take a pledge to grow at least two kinds of vegetables at their plots and to preserve water keeping in mind the looming drought situation.
In his address, the Governor said that Kerala was moving ahead to be declared a fully electrified State. He said the goal would be achieved by providing power connections to 2.5 lakh houses which presently did not have electricity. He, however, emphasized the necessity to save energy. “We should save energy through use of energy-efficient equipment,” he said.
Sathasivam also said that the Government would upgrade public schools at a total outlay of Rs1,080 crore and termed the initiative as the second revolution in the education sector. “The plan is to spend Rs2 crore each in 220 higher secondary schools and Rs1 crore each in 640 lower and upper primary schools,” he said.
Platoons of various forces including the Army, Air Force, Central Reserve Police Force, Railway Protection Force and the Kerala Police took part in the colourful parade in the capital. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and senior officials were present on the occasion. State Ministers led the celebrations in the districts.
Greeting the people of the State on the Republic Day through a Facebook post, the Chief Minister said, “Any effort to keep the people, who are following different languages, cultures, customs, and religious beliefs, fettered to the concept of a monolithic culture would be a huge challenge to nationalism in general.”
leading the celebrations in Ernakulam, Finance Minister TM Thomas Isaac said that excessive nationalism was the path to fascism. Food Minister P Thilothaman, Cooperation Minister Kadakampally Surendran and Water Resources Minister Mathew T Thomas led the celebrations in Kollam, Pathanamthitta and Alappuzha districts respectively.
While Power Minister MM Mani unfurled the national flag at Idukki, the celebrations were led by Public Works Minister G Sudhakaran in Kottayam.