Bhubaneswar, Aug. 15: Independence Day was peacefully celebrated across Odisha despite Maoists calling for a boycott of the day.
A few reports of the rebels hoisting black flags came in from Malkangiri, Rayagada and Balangir districts. "There were no reports of violence by the rebels," said director-general of police Sanjeev Marik.
The state-level Independence Day parade was held on Mahatma Gandhi Marg here amid tight security, where chief minister Naveen Patnaik took the salute. The parade venue had been turned almost into a fortress with more than 22 platoons of security personnel keeping vigil.
Extra security measures were put in place in the Maoist-affected districts of Malkangiri, Rayagada, Koraput, Kandhamal, Gajapati and Nuapada, where the rebels had given a call for boycotting celebrations.
Sports and youth services minister Sudam Marandi attended the Independence Day programme in the Maoist-hit Malkangiri, parliamentary affairs minister Bikram Keshari Arukh in Rayagada and energy minister Pranab Prakash Das in Koraput.
Unfurling the Tricolour at the state-level parade here, the chief minister announced the establishment of a scholarship council for encouraging meritorious students. "The proposed council will be an independent and professional body," he said.
Mentioning that investment process has been simplified under the new industrial policy, Naveen said a target had been set to create job opportunity for three lakh unemployed youth in the industry and manufacturing sector by 2019. Besides, steps were being taken to fill around 70,000 vacant government posts.
Naveen also said the gram panchayats were being strengthened for speedy rural development. "Our government will provide more than Rs 16,000 crore to panchayats over five years," he said.
Reiterating his government's commitment to covert all mud and thatched houses to the concrete ones, he said 5.7 lakh concrete houses had been built under the Biju Pucca Ghar Yojana.
Sixty-two platoons of the Central Reserve Police Force, Territorial Army, Central Industrial Security Force, Railway Protection Force, Odisha State Armed Police, Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force, NCC and other civilian cadets took part in the march past.
At a special event, the chief minister gave away medals to 30 police officials, six fire service officials, one home guard, two civil defence volunteers and four prison officials for exemplary service. Besides, eight persons received bravery awards.
On the occasion of Independence Day, President's police medals for distinguished and excellence were announced for 12 police officers of the state. While senior police officer Manoj Chhabra, now the chairman-cum-managing director of state police housing corporation, will be awarded the police medal for distinguished service, 11 other police officers will get the President's medal for excellent service. They will be presented the medal on the next Republic Day.
