New Delhi: Central government schemes and campaigns such as Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, Skill India, Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojna and Clean India Green India were some of the themes of tableaux at the 68th Republic Day parade here.
A total of 23 tableaux were on display at the ceremonial parade with 17 of them belonging to various states and Union Territories.
Six tableaux from Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME), Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation, Ministry of Skill Development, Central Board of Excise and Customs, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research and Central Public Works Department (CPWD) found place in the colourful caravan on Rajpath.
Goods and Services Tax (GST) -- the biggest tax reform initiate in the country, was showcased by the Ministry of Finance's tableau while the MSME tableau showcased measures adopted under Prime Minister's Employment Generation programme and Khadi programme through Khadi and Village Industries Commission.
States registering their presence this year included Goa, Odisha, Delhi, Tripura, West Bengal, Arunachal Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Gujarat, Lakshadweep, Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Jammu and Kashmir and Assam.
Arunachal's Yak dance, Karnataka's folk dances, Tamil Nadu's dance 'Karakattam' and Tripura's tribal dance 'Hojagiri' were represented in the tableau of the respective states, while Punjab showcased "Jago Aiya" -- a centuries old festive dance which takes place the night before a Punjabi wedding.
Delhi's tableau, which was part of the parade after three years, was set up as a model government school to portray the "transformation" in state-run schools and the recent initiatives taken by the government in the education sector.
The theme of Haryana's tableau was based on the popular "Beti bachao beti padhao" campaign, while Goa's focused on the state's musical heritage.
Lakshadweep, which participated in the parade after 23 years, portrayed itself as an unexplored destination for "adventure sport-nature tourism" with premier diving spots, rich eco-system, marine wealth, coral reefs, silver sandy beaches and pristine waters.
Embellished with colourful, aromatic flowers, the tableau of CPWD displayed the theme of "Clean India-Green India" to spread the message of a clean and green nation.
The "Skill India" tableau highlighted the initiatives, programmes and achievements of the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship to achieve the objective of skilled India.
The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)'s tableau depicted various successful projects from its 38 national laboratories.
The tableau of Jammu and Kashmir showcased winter sports at Gulmarg and Assam portrayed the holy shrine of Kamakhya.
