Widows honoured, tableaux presented in Kumaon region

PITHORAGARH: The 66th Republic Day was celebrated in Kumaon with fervour and gaiety. The day was celebrated in districts of Pithoragarh and Champawat amid hoisting of the tricolour and commissioning of several welfare programmes launched by the state government.

Our Correspondent

Pithoragarh, January 27

The 66th Republic Day was celebrated in Kumaon with fervour and gaiety. The day was celebrated in districts of Pithoragarh and Champawat amid hoisting of the tricolour and commissioning of several welfare programmes launched by the state government.

“Besides holding a joint police and paramilitary parade, we have honoured widows of gallantry award winners and displayed several tableaux of several departments depicting their contribution to development before the parade,” said a spokesman of the Pithoragarh District Magistrate.

According to information received from the ITBP, the force deputed at the last border post with China at Milam in Johar Valley, celebrated Republic Day and hoisted the tricolour in 6-feet-thick snow. “We organised a parade at our battalion headquarters Jajardeval and made the families of the jawans aware of the values of Republic Day besides remembering sacrifices made by the ITBP in Naxal-hit areas and also those by our men deployed in Namibia, Cambodia, Bosnia, Mozambique, Kosovo and Congo,” said an ITBP spokesman.

In Sukhidhank area of Champawat district, locals organised a flag-hoisting ceremony near a memorial built in memory of those who laid down their lives during the freedom struggle. “Despite more than 12 freedom fighters having spent golden years of their lives in British jails and some hailing from this small locality having made the supreme sacrifice, we are facing problems pertaining to road, water and electricity in remote villages of the area. Freedom fighters dreamed of a better future,” said Mahesh Chaurakoti, a local businessman.

According to Chaurakoti, freedom fighters of the area, under leadership of Ram Datt Chaurakoti, had marched towards Jaiti region of Almora district, making the people in villages aware of the Quit India Movement of 1942. “More than 10 freedom fighters from the area were put in Bareilly jail later,” said Chaurakoti.

At a meeting organised after hoisting of the tricolour, senior citizens of the area lamented that despite several promises, the 35-km-long patch of the much-awaited road of Danda Minat could not be completed. “We hope our struggle will give the state’s rulers and administrators wisdom to take care of us in future as we begin our struggle for roads and other facilities in the immediate future,” said Chaurakoti.