Telangana celebrates I-Day with two major schemes
Hyderabad, Aug 15: The 72nd Independence Day was celebrated in Telangana on Wednesday with the launch of two major schemes - free eye screening for all citizens and life insurance for farmers.
Under 'Kanti Velugu', the entire population of 3.7 crore will be provided free eye care. The authorities will not only conduct eye screening but will also provide free medicines, spectacles and arrange for free surgeries, if required.
The government expects that four lakh surgeries will be performed across the state. Under what is claimed to be the first such programme taken up anywhere in the world, the government plans to distribute 40 lakh spectacles.
Unfurling the national flag at the historic Golconda Fort, Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao also announced the implementation of another scheme, 'Rytu Bima', aimed at providing life insurance cover of Rs 5 lakh to every farmer.
The government will cover 28 lakh farmers aged between 18 and 59 years. The government will bear the annual premium of Rs 2,271 per farmer. It has already paid Rs 636 crore towards premium to Life Insurance Corp.
The insurance documents will be distributed among farmers from Wednesday.
For the fifth consecutive year, Rao unfurled the national flag at Golconda Fort to mark India's Independence Day.
The youngest state of India celebrated the day with gaiety and patriotic fervour, with Rao leading the celebrations at the main official function.
He reviewed a parade by contingents of Telangana State Special Police, State Armed Reserve and City Armed Reserve.
The number of policemen and students participating in the parade was limited due to space constraint. As in the previous four years, there were no tableaux.
After paying tributes to martyrs at a memorial at Parade Ground in Secunderabad, Rao drove to Golconda fort for the main event.
Drummers, tribals and other artists performed on the ramparts to add colour to the festivities.
After formation of the state in 2014, Rao had departed from the over five-decade-old tradition of Independence Day celebrations at the Parade Ground to choose the ancient fort as the venue to showcase the rich legacy of Telangana.
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Bommai turns down honorary doctorate, calls for rethink on awards to politicians
Bengaluru (PTI): BJP MP and former Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai has declined to accept an honorary doctorate from Haveri University, saying it is not appropriate to confer such honours on politicians or those engaged in self-motivated social service.
He said the love and trust of the people are the greatest honours in public life.
“I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the Vice-Chancellor, Pro Vice-Chancellor, Registrar and Syndicate members of Haveri University for deciding to confer an honorary doctorate on me,” Bommai, MP from Haveri, said in a statement issued on Sunday night.
“However, I have informed the Vice-Chancellor that I will not accept the honour. As I am engaged in public service, I do not seek any awards. I believe the love and trust of the people are the greatest honours. Therefore, I humbly reiterate that I will not accept the honorary doctorate,” he said.
Bommai said honorary doctorates should be awarded to individuals who have rendered distinguished and significant service in a particular field over a long period.
“It is my personal view that it is not appropriate to confer honorary doctorates on politicians or those engaged in social service out of self-motivation. I request that this matter be reconsidered,” he added.
Recently, Karnataka Higher Education Minister M C Sudhakar proposed the constitution of an expert panel to regulate the awarding of honorary doctorates.
In a letter to Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot, who is also the Chancellor of public universities in the state, the minister highlighted the lack of standards in conferring such honours.
