*73rd Independence day celebrated in Doda with great gusto, national fervor and gaiety* _Deputy Commissioner Doda unfurls tricolor,inspected march past contingents_

DODA, August 15:- The 73rd Independence day was today celebrated with national fervor, enthusiasm and gaiety. The main function of Independence day celebrations was held in the sports stadium Doda where Deputy Commissioner Doda Dr. Sagar D Doifode hoisted the tricolor and after inspected the parade, took salute of the 22 March past contingents drawn from the JK Police, IR 5th Bn, CRPF 76Bn, FPF, Home Guard, NCC and School children’s.

Addressing the gathering, the DC underlined the need for maintaining sustained peace and tranquility to realize the cherished goals of growth and development in the district.

Paying rich homage to the heroes of Indian freedom movement, the DC said that the independence achieved by their sacrifices can be protected by maintaining peace, tranquility and harmony in the district. He also paid respectful homage and salute to the brave hearts of the JK Police, Paramilitary and the Army who made the supreme sacrifice to preserve the territorial integrity of our country.

DC Doda in his speech highlighted various initiatives which were implemented in the district in the last six months like back to village programme which successfully concluded in the district under which more than 700 completed works were inaugurated, new works started and near about 1 crore of works under shramdandan were taken into account. Besides DC told the public that district administration is giving 100% effort to improve the quality of education in the entire district for which Zimedari-ek ehsaas project was initiated and in its first phase concept of grading of schools was introduced for the first time by any district and other innovative teaching programmes were conducted with the help of education department and NGO’s from Gujarat and Maharashtra.

For the disposal of public grievances at doorstep the DC said that district administration has conducted more than 70 darbar and more will be conducted in the future for the proper disposal of the issues at the micro level. Moreover during the ceremony DC Doda also briefed about various CSS schemes like PMSYM, Ayushman Bharat, PM Kissan infront of the participants and informed that thousands of beneficiaries are already getting the benefits of the schemes and also assured that the targets set by the administration for 100% enrollment will be achieved in time bound manner and the aims and benefits of the schemes will be provided to the eligible identified beneficiaries in the upcoming days.

Regarding tourism sector DC said new trek routes are already identified and more tourism related initiative to strengthen the tourism infrastructure in the district are taken into account and multiple festival like Lal Draman, Beer choo were organized and many more are in the way which will help to improve the potential tourism sector of the region in quality manner.

DC doda further highlighted various important mega developmental projects which are going on or going to start in the district like Pul Doda-Beoli road, construction of PMGSY roads, CRF roads, construction of multipurpose indoor hall, construction of newly sanctioned GMC doda will not only improve the road connectivities of the region in the upcoming times but also ease the life of common masses in true sense.

DC Doda also highlighted the recent development made in the health sector like the re-establishment of Ayush Hospital, functioning of the Dialysis centre and also told that many new courses are going to start soon in the newly established GMC Doda.

Highlighting the other achieved milestone in higher education sector DC doda in delightful manner informed the public that administration with the support of the public of Kastigarh had successfully inaugurated the GDC Kastigarh couple of weeks ago which will provide impetus to the education in the rural areas also. Besides DC Doda also congratulated the people of rural areas that with their active cooperation, Administration had successfully concluded the Panchayat Elections in the district and govt. is giving every possible effort to strengthen the grass root level democracy in letter and spirit.

Further, the DC told that higher administration has started the process for conducting the elections of Block Development Councils which will strengthen the democratic institutions at the grassroots level. He said the objective of constituting the block development council was to establish the second-tier of Panchayati Raj institutions for the implementation and monitoring of several centrally sponsored schemes. He stated that this budding Panchayati Raj system will be the harbinger of change in the district.

DC Doda also said that district administration for the proper guidance of the aspiring candidates of civil services has recently issued a notification,under which free coaching will be provided to the 100 aspiring candidates by the qualified candidates of union and state services.DC Doda appealed the students to come forward and be a part of this initiative for their bright future.

A scintillating cultural programme was also presented by the school children on the occasion. In the end the prizes were distributed among the parade Commander and best performing government employees in public services.

SSP Doda Mumtaz Ahmed, ADDC Doda Imam Din,ADC Doda Kishori Lal Sharma,SP Operations Ravinder Pal Singh,MC President Ved Prakash Gupta,Counsellors of Various wards,besides officers of District Administration, Police,Army and Para Military forces,besides Ex MLA & MOS were also present on the occasion.

At Bhaderwah, Additional Deputy Commissioner Bhaderwah Dr. Ravi Kumar Bharti unfurled national flag and took salute at March past contingents.

Similar functions were also held at all Sub Divisional and Tehsil levels across the District where Sub Divisional Magistrates and Tehsildars respectively unfurled the National Flag and took salute of the March past contingents.