Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu presenting the Indian Police medal to Eagle Chief Ake Ravikrishna at the 80th Independence Day celebrations at Amaravati near Nelapadu in Guntur District on Saturday. (Photo by arrangement)

Vijayawada: Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu presented awards to the best-performing parade contingents and tableaux at the 80th Independence Day celebrations held at Nelapadu in Amaravati on Saturday, recognising their discipline, presentation and depiction of the State’s development and welfare initiatives.

Naidu, the chief guest, unfurled the National Flag and reviewed the parade presented by the police and security forces. The march-past and colourful tableaux showcasing various government programmes were among the major attractions.

Police officials Aake Ravikrishna, Gopu Rajeev Kumar and Bhadraiah Ch received President’s Police Medals from Naidu. NSG Lakshmi, T. Uday Bhaskar, K. Ramachandra Murthy, N. Vishnu, S. Gopalakrishnan, P. Srinivasulu, T. Muralikrishna, K. Krishnamurthy Raju, S.M. Sharif, T.V. Sambasiva Rao, G. Srinivasa Rao, J.V. Subba Rayudu, D. Bhaktavatsala Raju, K. Govindarajulu, S. Lakshminarsimha Rao, Sk. Chinna Saidaiah and others were also honoured with medals by the Chief Minister.

In the parade category, the AP Special Police, Kurnool, secured second place among the best armed contingents, while the Karnataka State Special Police was adjudged the second-best armed contingent. The AP Social Welfare contingent won the award for the best unarmed contingent, with the NCC girls’ contingent securing second place. The Sainik Welfare contingent received a consolation prize.

Around 25 government departments participated in the tableau display, highlighting initiatives in education, agriculture, health, tourism, infrastructure, energy, welfare, industries, irrigation and urban development.

The Education and Integrated Shiksha tableau, themed “Education Revolution for a Developed India”, and the Horticulture Department tableau jointly won the first prize. The Handlooms and Textiles Department tableau, showcasing initiatives for the welfare of weavers, secured the second prize. The Forest Department tableau, carrying the message “Protect forests, save wildlife” and highlighting the Haritha Andhra vision, won the third prize.

The decorated tableaux were later put on public display at several locations in Vijayawada, Guntur and the Amaravati Capital Region Development Authority limits. Fourteen tableaux were displayed near Dr B.R. Ambedkar Smriti Vanam on M.G. Road in Vijayawada, while two tableaux of the Water Resources and Endowments departments were placed near the Kanaka Durga temple at Ratham Centre.

In Guntur, tableaux of the Revenue, Real Time Governance Society and Health departments were displayed. In villages under the CRDA limits, tableaux of the APCRDA, Forest, Mines and Geology, Tourism and Industries departments were put on display.

The tableaux will remain available for public viewing till August 17, officials said.

At the 80th Independence Day celebrations at the Makineni Basavapunnaiah Stadium in Ajit Singh Nagar, Vijayawada, Education and IT minister Nara Lokesh attended as the chief guest. He presented a medal to Vijayawada Commissioner of Police S.V. Rajasekhar Babu. Police, Home Guards, Scouts and Guides, girls’ contingents, GNM, Youth Red Cross, My Bharat and Youth Time Bank contingents presented a ceremonial salute.

Cultural programmes and demonstrations by schoolchildren added colour to the celebrations. Tableaux depicting the Kanaka Durga temple, disaster response and fire services, Panchayat Raj, rural development, water resources, women and child welfare, agriculture, horticulture, micro-irrigation, civil supplies, school education, health, transport, industries, forests, Vijayawada Municipal Corporation and drone surveillance by the NTR district police also drew applause.

Lokesh presented medals and certificates of appreciation to personnel who rendered distinguished service in various government departments.

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