Bhubaneswar: Despite heavy rainfall alert, hundreds of people thronged the Mahatma Gandhi Marg in the city to witness the state-level Independence Day parade.
Though there was an overcast sky in the city throughout the day and a few showers, chief minister Naveen Patnaik unfurled the national flag and addressed the gathering.
School and college students were, however, disappointed as the Odisha government did not allow them to take part in the parade across the state in the wake of a heavy rain and lightning warning from the Indian Meteorological Department.
The Odisha government had also banned the cultural and other events by the students on the occasion. Only police and paramilitary forces joined the parade.
On the occasion, the chief minister announced that the Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana would be launched on Wednesday to provide free health service worth up to Rs 5 lakh to 70 lakh poor beneficiaries. The scheme was later inaugurated by the chief minister at the Capital Hospital, Odisha's premier hospital.
Highlighting the development agenda of his government, the chief minister claimed that Odisha had achieved a new identity in social security, women empowerment and called upon the people to build a "strong and prosperous Odisha".
Naveen said his government had accorded priority to the farmers, women and youth, and they were being provided with loan at only 1 per cent interest.
While the farmers are being provided crop loan at 1 per cent interest, meritorious but needy students are given soft loan for prosecuting higher studies. Similarly, the women self-help groups are provided easy bank credit for their economic empowerment.
He also briefly mentioned about the achievement of the Odisha government in developing world-class sports infrastructure and hosting international sports events. "After the Asian Athletics meet in the city, Odisha is all set to host the Men's World Cup hockey," Naveen said.
While the chief minister unfurled the tricolour at the state-level Independence Day parade, his ministerial colleagues received salute at various district headquarters.
Steel and mines minister Prafulla Kumar Mallick unfurled the tricolour at Balangir, tourism and culture minister Ashok Chandra Panda did it in Puri, food supply minister Surjya Narayan Patro in Rayagada, health minister Pratap Jena in Angul, agriculture minister Pradeep Maharathy in Baripada, higher education minister Ananta Das in Keonjhar, MSME minister Prafulla Samal in Phulbani and school and mass education minister Badri Narayan Patra in Jajpur.
