The Chief Minister, Dr. Pramod Sawant led the people of the State in paying homage to the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi on the occasion of the 155th Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti by offering floral tributes at the statue of Gandhiji at Gandhi Chowk, Old Goa.
Local MLA, Rajesh Faldessai, Sarpanch of Se Old Goa Panchayat, Smt. Medha M. Parvatkar, Zilla Panchayat Member Shri Siddesh S. Naik, State Chief Information Commissioner (SCIC) Shri Aravind Kumar H. Nair and State Information Commissioners (SIC) Shri Atmara R. Barve and others dignitaries paid floral tributes to the memory of the great leader at his life size statue on the occasion.
Chief Minister Dr. Sawant speaking on the occasion said that, Mahatma Gandhiji, who gave the message of peace and non-violence, not only focused on freeing India from British domination, but also worked to raise awareness about cleanliness, spreading the message that it is the only religion. Continuing Mahatma Gandhi’s cleanliness ideal and to pay his last respects to Mahatma Gandhiji, India’s Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has launched the Swachha Bharat Abhiyan / clean India mission, enlisting people of all ages across the country to make India clean. This endeavour of his has now completed ten years, he added.
Speaking further, the Chief Minister said to build a better Nation, Mahatma Gandhi embraced the philosophy of “Antodaya Tatva” which sought to reach out to the last person of the society and ensure that no one was left out of government services when India gained independence. Taking this step ahead, the central government under the leadership of Prime Minister of India through Atmanirbhar Bharat mission have made all efforts for the overall development of this country and ensured that facility such as water, insurance, housing, roads, etc. have reached the last person of the society. The State Government through Swayampurna Goa mission, is making all efforts to make each and every Goan village and city self reliant. Due importance is provided on skilled education through Skilling, reskilling and Upskilling to make our youth skilled.
Recalling the Mahatma Gandhi’s another mission to use ‘Khadi’, Chief Minister said that under the mission vocal for local, we should also try to use the local product. Our focus on Make in India and Made in India, will give boost to India’s economy. The Prime Minister of India apart from giving importance to Clean India mission, also focusses on various aspects such as Make In India, Digital India, Start-up India, Fit India etc, for Nation’s development.
Religious leaders, Shri Gajendra Khedekar, Fr Patricio Fernandes and Hazarat Maulana Mahammad Rafik recited verses from the Bhagwad Gita, Bible and Quran.
Kala Academy choir group sang bhajans on the occasion. Sarpanch of Se Old Goa, Smt. Medha M. Parvatkar welcomed while Shri Pradip Naik compered the function.
Later, the Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant, MLA, Shri Rajesh Faldessai, Sarpanch, Smt. Medha M. Parvatkar, ZP member, Shri Siddesh S. Naik and other dignitaries attended the function organised by Se Old Goa Village Panchayat to celebrate the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister of India, late Lal Bahadur Shastri, at the panchayat premises and offered floral tributes.
