Dr. E. Ramesh Kumar, IAS Chairman, MPT, unfurled the national flag, took the salute and inspected the parade at the Independence Day celebrations in port. While addressing an impressive gathering of Trustees of the Board, Dy. Chairman, Head of Departments, Officers, staff, employees, parents, invitees, students and teachers at the Independence Day celebrations at the Deepvihar School grounds, the Chairman began his impressive address by quoting the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi. Quote: “Freedom is never dear at any price. It is the breath of life. What would a man not pay for living” unquote.
“It was on this day when the UK Parliament passed the Indian Independence Act 1947 transferring legislative sovereignty to the Indian Constituent Assembly. It was the culmination of the supreme sacrifices and the undeterred valour and immolation of our might and most revered freedom fighters, drawn from across the length and breadth of the country, irrespective of their social and economic status. They have shed their sweat and blood only to see Mother India – free, sovereign plural and egalitarian and was absolute”.
He further reminded the august gathering that we still have the daunting task of accomplishing the unaccomplished, prime most of this being, bringing equality and equanimity amongst fellow citizens.
Recalling the supreme sacrifices of the Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi, the Chairman Dr. Ramesh Kumar showered profuse praises saying “ Mahatma Gandhi is unmatched and unparalled in the annals of the history of any nation. He is the guiding light of our successful effort to liberate our nation, whose 150th birth anniversary we will be celebrating on 2nd October”.
“Looking back on the last 72 years of Independence, it is widely believed from the days when the concept of zero first appeared in India around A.D. 458. In 628, a Hindu astronomer and mathematician named Brahmagupta developed a symbol for zero – a dot underneath numbers, till the latest space marvel, of the launch of Chandrayan-2 on 22nd July 2019, India has made progress in every field, be it education or sports or its military prowess or the space programmes” said Dr. Ramesh Kumar.
The Chairman highlighted the role of the women and youth in the task of nation building and the creativity, hard work and dynamism of millions of Indians. The Chairman laid emphasis on the strides of progress made on the political front and the abrogation of Article 370 which will bring immense benefits to the regions of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. He laid special emphasis on the address of the President Ram Nath Kovind to the nation on the eve of Independence Day “I’m confident that the recent changes made in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh would be of immense benefit to those regions. They will enable the people to access and enjoy the same rights same privileges and same facilities as their fellow citizens in the rest of the country” quote and unquote.
The Chairman further stated “The government led by able and dynamic prime minister has, internationally put India on a very high pedestal in the comity of nations. On the domestic front too, with a slew of welfare schemes, every citizen is taken together in the growth and development of this nation “
Speaking on the steps initiated by the Port Management on the environment protection the Chairman said “The port is taking measures to ensure a clean and healthy environment not only in and around the port but also in Vasco through a series of initiatives including bringing awareness amongst the young talented brains, the youth, the women and all sections of the society towards environment protection and its importance. The massive plantation programme undertaken by the MPT is also a step in this direction. Efforts are on to develop a state of art international cruise terminal”. He complimented the untiring efforts effort and sacrifices of the port family and expressed confidence that the port will soon be at its best.
Patriotic songs were rendered by the students of Deepvihar schools, prizes were distributed to the winners of the various competitions organized by the port for the school students of Vasco and Mormugao on Environment protection and Awareness. The CISF personnel too were felicitated for their services to the port at the hands of the Chairman and the Dy. Chairman Shri Guruprasad Rai.
The Dy. Chairman, CVO, Labour Trustee along with HODs, and other dignitaries visited the MPT Hospital where they were received by Dr. Nimish Pillai, Chief Medical Officer MPT Hospital, and the senior Medical Officers and staff. The Dy. Chairman interacted with the inpatients at the port hospital inquiring about their health, well-being and distributed fruits to all.
