August 16, 2020: The 74th Independence Day celebrations at the Mormugao Port Trust were held at their Main Administrative building, HeadLand, Sada. The Chief Guest for the august function, Dr. E. Ramesh Kumar, IAS Chairman, MPT unfurled the National Flag and took the salute followed by the national anthem in the presence of the Dy. Chairman Shri G. P. Rai, Dy. Commandant CISF, Board of Trustees, Heads of department, Port Officers, representatives of the Trade Unions, teachers of the Port managed Deepvihar Schools, Covid warriors including Doctors, Nurses, para medical staff, Sanitary workers, staff and
invitees by strictly maintaining Social Distancing norms and wearing of musk.
The Chairman Dr. Ramesh Kumar, began his impressive speech with a quote from Mark Twain “India is the cradle of the human race, the birth place of human speech, the mother of history, the grandmother of legend, the great grandmother of tradition. Our most valuable and most artistic materials in the history of man are treasured up in India only.”
Extending his greetings to the august gathering, the Chief Guest said “on 15th August 1947 India has obtained its truly deserving freedom from the clutches of long slavery of 200 years of British rule. We bow our head to the valiant soldiers and sons of this
mother who have shed their blood and sacrificed their lives to free India.”
Paying rich accolades to mother India the Chairman further said, “The birth of Mother India was a movement of historic exhilaration, but it was also tinged with the blood of unimaginable suffering across the length and breadth of the country. The ideals and convictions that had held through travails of an epic struggle against British rule were under strain. Indiaâs pride, self-esteem, and self respect born from civilizational wisdom which inspired the renaissance that won its freedom was distilled into the principle of our Constitution by these extraordinary men and women. Chief architect of the Indian Constitution Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar has blessed us with a Constitution that launched
Indiaâs march towards greatness.”
The Chairman extolled India’s success over the last 70 years in political, social and economic fields and the advancement in science and space technology. This he said is the result of a new emerging India, and the creative endeavour and hard work of millions. He said generation of inclusive growth can banish poverty, a growth that is vibrant, and sustained creating opportunities for gainful employment. He called upon the youth and women to actively participate towards this goal.
The Chairman also touched upon the Government’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan stimulus package of 20 lakhs crore to instill confidence in the market. And the New Education Policy launched by the Government to bring in much needed reforms in the education sector.
Showering praises on the Prime Minister Narendra Modiji, the Chairman said The year 2020 has thrown at us unprecedented challenge, in the form of Covid 19 pandemic. The government of India under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modiji, has put in all efforts to avert colossal damage to life and liberty that would have otherwise happened had not they intervened on time. The Chairman complimented the port users, stakeholders, port employees for their continuous unstinted support that even during the Covid 19 pandemic the port never had to face a day without operations. He thanked them profusely. He further said, that despite the financial stress and loss during the FY 2019-
2020 on account of ban on mining, the Port Management has implemented the revised pay scales of the Class III & IV employees and pensioners from 1st January 2020 and the serving Officers and pensioners from 1st April 2020.
Certificates were distributed to Covid warriors, MPT staff, CISF personnel and others. Various online competitions were held for School children of Deepvihar and Ashadeep School as part of the Independence day celebrations.
All covid warriors of this nation and who were present for the function were given huge applause by the crowd gathered for the function. The function ended with a cultural programme like skit and song on covid awareness, Patriotic Songs were performed to mark the occasion.
