Mangaluru: The 68th Republic Day was celebrated in a rather colourful way in City’s Central Maidan on Thursday morning. After receiving the customary Guard of Honour, District in-charge Minister B Ramanath Rai addressed the gathering and said that the Republic Day talks of the aspiration of the Indians, who had broken out of the clutches of British rule.

This is the day the Constitution of India was formed, shedding light on the rights and duties of each and every Indian citizen.

“This is the day to remember our rights but also perform our duties towards this great country diligently,” he said.

Listing out the various programmes that have been implemented by the state government, Rai said that with schemes like Anna Bhagya, Ksheera Bhagya and others, the state government had made sure that it is catering to even the last man standing and he said that specifically, the government has sanctioned Rs 33 lacs to provide nutritious food for Koragas and the Malekudiya community members.

People can apply for new APL Ration cards online, he said adding that so far 1,375 applications have been received, out of which 874 applicants have been given with the cards.

Rai said that 31 hostels have been sanctioned under the district’s Social Welfare Department, Minority Welfare and Backward Classes and added that while Ambedkar Bhavan was inaugurated recently in the city, construction of Gandhi Bhavan will start soon.

Meanwhile, Wenlock Hospital Superintendent Dr Rajeshwari DEvi and Girish Gowd were honoured during the programme. ACP Uday Nayak, DCP Valentine D’Souza were felicitated for bagging Presidents’ Police Medal for Meritorious Service.

MLAs J R Lobo, Mohiuddin Bawa, MP Nalin Kumar Kateel, Deputy Commissioner Dr K G Jagadeesh, Superintendent of Police Bhushan Borase, IGP Harisekaran among others were present.