Shiva Raj S. Thangadagi, Minister for Agricultural Produces Marketing and Sugar, hoisted the national flag and delivered the Independence Day address at the fort premises, at Madikeri. He inspected a guard of honour and witnessed a spectacular cultural presentation by students of various schools of Kodagu. Delivering the Independence day message the Minister urged the officials and the general public to work towards the development in all walks of life, and to fulfil the vision of Former President Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam’s dream of a developed India by the year 2020. The Minister further highlighted the achievements of his government over the past year, which were
1. The State has exported 75,000 crores worth software in 2009-10,
2. Kodagu ZP got 10.71 crores grant and 530 roads were repaired.
3. Under the Suvarna Gramodaya Scheme, 16 works have been completed at a cost of 1,174.41 lakhs.
4. In the health sector, the district will get a medicine warehouse at a cost of 2 crores and five ambulances will be sanctioned to the district under Arogya Kavacha.
5. As many as 4,332 beneficiaries were covered under Janani Suraksha Yojane, 2,531 benefited from Prasuthi treatment and 2,593 kits have been supplied under Madilu.
3. Under Bhagyalakshmi scheme, 4,932 girls in the district got bonds and cycles were distributed to 7,099 students. So far 1, 29,139 ration cards were distributed, of which 71,489 are BPL cards.
3. Under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, 43,429 people got cards and 1399.55 lakhs was invested.
8. Under Raitha Sanjvini scheme, insurance worth 548 lakhs was disbursed.
He further added that a synthetic track will be laid in Kudige at an investment of 285 lakhs, and one crore was sanctioned for upgrading the tourist spots in Kodagu.
The programme was attended by MLC M.C. Nanaiah, ex MLC S.G. Medappa, ZP President V.M. Vijaya, Madikeri CMC President P.D. Ponnappa, standing committee Chairman in ZP for health and education A. Manu Muthappa, DC K.H. Ashwathnarayana Gowda, SP Majunath Annigeri, ZP CEO A.B. Ibrahim, Assistant Commissioner M.R. Ravi, Additional Deputy Commissioner Chandre Gowda, Madikeri tashildar T. Rekha, CMC Commissioner Sreekanth Rao, Kodagu KSP President T.P. Ramesh, CMC councillors and others.