The Hindu : Kerala / Kochi News : LDF government aiming to establish welfare state, says Minister

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LDF government aiming to establish welfare state, says Minister

Staff Reporter

A.K. Balan presents Chief Minister’s medals to 15 police personnel

— Photos: Vipin Chandran/Thulasi Kakkat

RED-LETTER DAY: Minister for Power and Welfare of Backward and Scheduled Communities, A.K. Balan, inspecting the parade at the Independence Day celebrations at St. Albert’s College grounds in the city on Friday. (Right) A worker making preparations for hoisting the Tricolour at a construction site.

KOCHI: Even though the nation has advanced much in recent times, its benefits have not percolated down due to the economic reforms, Minister for Power and Welfare of Backward and Scheduled Communities, A.K. Balan, said here on Friday. He was delivering the Independence Day message after hoisting the national flag at St. Albert’s College grounds at Kaloor.

Even while accolades are flowing in for the country’s development, nearly 300 million people are starving in this nation. “We need to go far in achieving the Constitutional goal of being a welfare State. The LDF-led State government is working towards that,” he said.

The Minister hoisted the national flag at 8.30 a.m. and took salute at the parade. Seven armed forces units, 25 unarmed forces units and four band groups participated in the parade led by V. Pushpakumar, Reserve Inspector, Kochi City Armed Reserve.

Trophies given away

Later, he presented the Chief Minister’s medals for police personnel, which were announced during this year’s Republic Day. Fifteen police personnel from the district received medals.

The Minister also gave away trophies to Valayanchirangara Higher Secondary School and Ernakulam Cooperative Society Joint Registrar Office for topping the Armed Forces Flag funds for 2007.

Mr. Balan presented the awards for platoons that excelled in the parade. Among the armed units, District Armed Reserve, Rural, in police category and Sea Cadet Core senior division in the NCC section emerged first. Among the unarmed units, NCC Army Wing Junior Division for girls, Perumanoor CCPLM in the Scouts section and Ernakulam St. Teresa’s College in the Guides section won top prizes.

Among Junior Red Cross, Perumanoor CCPLM, Ernakulam St. Mary’s Higher Secondary School and Kacheripadi St. Antony’s won the top three prizes. Among Bulbuls, Thattazham Don Bosco LPS, Chathiath LMCC LPS and Ernakulam St. Mary’s LPS won prizes, while among Cubs, Thattazham LPS, Ernakulam St. Mary’s LPS and Chathiath LMCC LPS won the top three prizes.

St. Teresa’s College won the first prize among band groups, while Perumanoor CCPLM and Kacheripadi St. Antony’s won the second and third positions. Students of the Government Girls High School sang the national anthem.

The chief guest for the Independence Day celebrations was received on his arrival at the venue by District Collector M. Beena and City Police Commissioner Manoj Abraham. K. Babu, MLA, K.N. Raje, Additional Divisional Magistrate, M.K. Joseph, Revenue Divisional Officer and freedom fighters in the district attended the function.

At the Naval base, Vice-Admiral Sunil K. Damle reviewed the ceremonial parade and laid a wreath at the War Memorial.

Ships spruced up

The ships of the Southern Naval Command were decorated in the traditional manner on the occasion of Independence Day.

The nation can justifiably be proud of the achievements our country has made since Independence, he said in his address. Scientists, officers and staff of the Naval Physical and Oceanographic Laboratory here led by Lab Director S. Anantha Narayanan planted about 150 saplings, comprising endangered species ones such as Karpooram, Lakshmi Tharu, Kunthirikkam, Nagamaram, Akil, Raktachandanam, Irippa, Vanchi, on the campus.

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