Cachar gears up for grand 80th Independence Day celebrations

The preparatory meeting was chaired by Cachar District Commissioner Rahul Kumar Gupta, IAS on Tuesday at the new conference hall of DC’S office here on Tuesday. The meeting was attended by elected representatives, senior civil and police officials, heads of government departments, representatives of the armed forces, educational institutions, business organisations, NGOs and other stakeholders.

At the outset , the District Commissioner reviewed last year’s programme and invited suggestions from the participants before finalising this year’s schedule. Additional District Commissioner Dhrubajyoti Pathak, ACS presented the proceedings of the previous year’s celebrations following which the meeting adopted a series of decisions for the smooth conduct of the national event.

The District Sports Association (DSA) Ground has been selected as the venue for the main Independence Day function while the Police Parade Ground will be used for parade rehearsals.

As per the approved programme, the day will begin with patriotic songs broadcast through the Fixed Loud Speaker network from 5.30 am. Citizens have been encouraged to hoist the National Flag at their homes and establishments at 7 am, while all government offices and educational institutions will organise flag hoisting ceremonies at 7.30 am. Schools will also hold community singing of the National Anthem.

Students from schools across the district will march to the ceremonial venue before floral tributes are paid to Mahatma Gandhi at Gandhi Bagh. The programme will also include Swahid Tarpan to honour the sacrifices of the country’s freedom fighters.

The ceremonial flag hoisting at 9 am will be followed by a combined parade involving contingents of the CRPF, Assam Police, 6th Assam Police Battalion, Home Guards, NCC, Scouts and Guides, along with school students. The Senior Superintendent of Police, Cachar, has been entrusted with overseeing the parade, rehearsals and security arrangements in coordination with all participating agencies.

Extensive preparations have also been planned at the venue. The concerned departments will undertake levelling of the ground, trimming of grass, sanitation, drainage cleaning, electrification, barricading and installation of temporary infrastructure well before the celebrations. Police will conduct anti-sabotage checks, frisking and security surveillance at the parade venue and other locations to be visited by dignitaries.

To ensure the well-being of parade participants, refreshments will be provided throughout the rehearsal period with support from the district administration, business organisations, banks and local associations. Medical teams, ambulance, drinking water and emergency healthcare facilities will remain available during rehearsals as well as on Independence Day.

 Fruits and sweets will be distributed among patients in hospitals, inmates of orphanages, old age homes, de addiction centres and the Central Jail with the support of various organisations. A community feast has also been planned with the cooperation of Rotary Club, Silchar.

An exhibition football match between the District Commissioner’s Office and the District Bar Association (Veteran) XI will be organised at the DSA Ground in the afternoon. The day’s programme will conclude with the ceremonial retreat of the National Flag and illumination of government buildings, important public institutions, statues and major traffic islands across Silchar.

The meeting also decided that a 30-minute cultural programme featuring performances by different ethnic communities of the district would be organised at the DSA Ground. Demonstrations by local yoga and physical culture organisations will also form part of the celebrations.

Doordarshan Kendra and All India Radio, Silchar have been requested to provide coverage of the official programme while the Information and Public Relations Department will coordinate publicity through print, electronic and public address media. Public awareness campaigns on the proper display of the National Flag in accordance with the Flag Code of India will also be taken up.

The Chief Executive Officer of Cachar Zilla Parishad, Block Development Officers, Revenue Circle Officers and Co-District administrations have been asked to organise suitable Independence Day programmes in their respective areas to ensure widespread public participation.

Concluding the meeting, District Commissioner Rahul Kumar Gupta urged all departments and participating organisations to work in close coordination and complete their assigned responsibilities well in advance so that the district celebrates the 80th Independence Day in an organised, dignified and inclusive manner.

The meeting was also attended by ADC Smt Jagriti Kalwar ACS,Shri Manojyoti Kutum ACS and other senior officers of district administration cachar.

This is stated in a press release issued by the Regional office of Information & Public Relations Barak valley Zone Silchar Assam.