Port Blair, Oct. 27: The Government of India has envisaged and launched a campaign ‘Meri Maati Mera Desh’ (MMMD) across the country as a finale programme of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav. In this regard, a State Level send off programme of Amrit Kalash Yatra under ‘Meri Maati Mera Desh’ campaign was organized in the Auditorium of Tagore Government College of Education (TGCE), Middle Point today. Admiral D K Joshi, PVSM, AVSM, YSM, NM, VSM (Retd.), Hon’ble Lt. Governor, A&N Islands & Vice Chairman, Islands Development Agency was the chief guest on the occasion. The Chief Secretary (I/C), Shri Nikhil Kumar,IAS, PCCF, Shri T S Ashok Kumar, IFS, Adhyaksh, ZPSA, Shri Sanjay Kumar Singh, senior Officers of A&N Administration were present on the occasion.
Addressing the gathering, the Lt. Governor said that ‘Amrit Kalash Yatra’ under ‘Meri Maati Mera Desh’ campaign is a unique initiative, in which, soil collected in ‘Amrit Kalash’ from every corner of the country from Villages, Blocks, Towns, Cities will be taken to New Delhi and an ‘Amrit Vatika’ will be built in National Capital in New Delhi with soil and plants from different parts of the country.
The Lt. Governor further stated that the soil collected from these Islands has a special significance as our Islands are deeply connected with the freedom struggle of India’s Independence. The Lt. Governor remarked that freedom fighters of the First War of Indian Independence- 1857 were brought to these Islands and the National Memorial Cellular Jail is the mute witness to the sufferings meted out to the freedom fighters during their imprisonment in the Cellular Jail.
The Lt. Governor stated that even after our Country got Independence in the year 1947 and to keep our hard earned independence intact, many people made supreme sacrifices during wars. The Lt. Governor stated that to honour the sacrifices of the brave men, the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has named 21 Islands of A&N Islands in the name of the great heroes decorated with ‘Param Vir Chakra’. The ‘Amrit Kalash’ which will be taken to New Delhi by the representatives from different blocks of A&N Islands contains soil collected from the 21 Islands too, which are named in honour of ‘Param Vir Chakra’ awardees.
While conveying his best wishes to the representatives who will be taking the ‘Amrit Kalash’ to New Delhi, the Lt. Governor urged them to convey the message about the importance of the soil from A&N Islands due to its deep association with the freedom struggle history of India’s Independence. He congratulated the Departments associated with this campaign for efficiently conducting series of activities under ‘Meri Maati Mera Desh’ Campaign in A&N Islands.
Lt. Governor also released a booklet titled ‘Meri Maati Mera Desh’- ‘Maati Ko Naman, ‘Veeron Ka Vandan’ containing information regarding the series of activities carried out by various Departments to celebrate the campaign with ‘Jan Bhagidari’.
On the occasion, the Lt. Governor also administered the ‘Panch Pran’ pledge to all present in the auditorium. Emphasizing the sentiment of ‘Meri Maati Meri Desh’, the participants took ‘Panch Pran’ oath to fulfill their duties and responsibilities towards the nation, taking pride in the promotion and preservation of the country’s rich cultural heritage and striving for the unity and integrity of the country.
In his address, the Chief Secretary (I/C), Shri Nikhil Kumar informed that on the clarion call given by the Hon’ble Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, the sacred campaign ‘Meri Maati Mera Desh’ started in A&N Islands on August 9, 2023. This campaign was conducted in two phases viz. activities to pay respect to the motherland and paying glowing tributes to the heroes who made supreme sacrifices. In the first phase, 92 Silaphalakam with inscription of the names of the Veers who lost their lives in the line of duty was unveiled, 313 Amrit Vatikas were created by planting 12385 saplings, about 800 persons viz. freedom fighters, soldiers and policemen were honoured and as part of Independence Day celebration, ‘Har Ghar Tiranga campaign’ was also organized in which Islanders participated enthusiastically. The second phase of the campaign started in the month of September, 2023, during which, ‘Amrit Kalash Yatra’ with mitti/rice collected from various villages were carried from each Gram Panchayat to Blocks. Thereafter this ‘Amrit Kalash’ from all the blocks was brought to Port Blair by the representatives for its onward journey to New Delhi. He appreciated the effort of each and every Department for their support in the conduct of the event and expressed gratitude to the general public for making this campaign a grand success.
Welcoming the chief guest and others present on the occasion, the Secretary (RD/ Panchayat), Ms Veditha Reddy, IAS, said, as part of the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav which started on March, 2021 commemorating 75 years of India’s Independence, A&N Administration organized various programmes and activities. Different States/UTs, Ministries and Departments in the Country organized campaigns such as ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’, ‘Mission Life’, ‘Swachchata Hi Seva’ ‘Meri Maati Mera Desh’ etc. for ‘Maximum Jan Bhagidari’ in these campaigns. Meri Maati Mera Desh campaign with the tagline ‘Mitti Ko Naman, Veeron Ka Vandan’ emerged as a nationwide campaign to celebrate the achievements of the nation’s bravehearts and promote Jan Bhagidari. Under the able guidance of Hon’ble Lt. Governor, A&N Islands, this campaign was conducted successfully in Isles with greater participation of the people, she added.
The programme concluded with the vote of thanks proposed by the Secretary (PBMC), Shri Dilkhush Meena, IAS.