Gaiety marks day in Rajasthan

By Our Staff Correspondent

JAIPUR, JAN. 26. Republic Day was celebrated with gaiety and enthusiasm all over Rajasthan today. The State-level function was organised at Sawai Man Singh Stadium here, where the Governor, Mr. Anshuman Singh, unfurled the national Tricolour and took salute of the parade.

The function was held amid tight security which saw the stadium bring sealed before the parade began. At least 500 police officers, including those in civil dress and horse-riders, were in charge of the security.

In his Republic Day message, Mr. Anshuman Singh said the State Government had taken several historic decisions over the last couple of years enabling Rajasthan to march ahead and compete with other developed States.

He pointed out that 15 economic and social priorities, fixed for an effective and responsive administration, were being implemented in a time-bound manner.

Since the State was facing drought for the third consecutive year, the State Government had made arrangements to provide employment to the affected people and ensure adequate supply of water and availability of fodder in the affected areas.

The Governor said the short-term cooperative loans were being converted into long-term loans and the recovery of land revenue was being exempted.

Despite the adverse financial situation, the State Government has spent Rs. 1,200 crores on famine relief works and obtained a loan of Rs. 144 crores from NABARD for the first time for carrying out relief works.

Mr. Anshuman Singh said employment was provided to 18 lakh people - the highest number so far - and 2,57 community assets were created under the famine relief works during the last financial year.

Rajasthan, he said was the first State to accomplish the task of restructuring the entire power sector in a single phase.

A single window scheme had been started to provide all facilities to entrepreneurs at one place and an Economic Development Board set up to formulate strategy for industrial development.

Ten police officials who were honoured for their distinguished services in the function included the Inspector General of Police (Headquarter), Mr. P.K. Tiwari, who was given the President's Police Medal.

Other included the Deputy Inspector General, Mr. Sudhir Pratap Singh, two Additional Superintendents of Police, two Deputy Superintendents of Police, one inspector and three head constables.

The Chief Minister, Mr. Ashok Gehlot, in his message called upon the people to work for strengthening of democratic institutions and said the challenges of communalism, regionalism and terrorism could be met by reaffirming the faith in healthy traditions of democracy.

He said the State Government had accorded the highest priority to providing relief to the drought-affected people despite ``insufficient'' help from the Centre. The development works valued at Rs. 1,200 crores undertaken in the State had indicated the Government's fast pace of work, he said.

Republic Day functions were also organised at all district headquarters this morning. Functions were also held in the State Secretariat, Rajasthan High Court, Bari Chaupar in the Walled City and the headquarters of PCC(I) and BJP, where the national flag was unfurled.

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