Mangaluru: Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav is an initiative of the Government of India undertaken as a celebration and commemoration of 75 progressive years of independent India as well as the glorious history of its culture and achievements. The Mahotsav is dedicated to the people of India – to their role in the progress so far and to the realization of their further potential to take the country to new echelons of prosperity.
The official journey of the Mahotsav commenced on March 12, starting a 75-week countdown to the 75th anniversary of Independence and which will end by August 15, 2022.
The objective of the Mahotsav is to act as an intensive, country-wide campaign that will focus on citizen participation at the local level, which will cause small progressive changes, adding up to significant national gains. In addition, this Mahotsav also tries to commemorate the great endeavours undertaken by our forefathers in the glorious 75 years of post-independence India.
While remembering the post-independence achievements of the nation, we at NMPT, recall the Mangalore Harbour Project which was set up in 1962. The New Mangalore Port, which is one of the post-independence ports, was declared as the 9th Major Port on 4th May 1974 and was formally inaugurated by the then Prime Minister of India on 11th January 1975.
Over the years, the Port has grown from the level of handling less than a lakh tonnes of traffic to 36.50 million tonnes last year. Over the span of 47 years, the port has crossed many milestones. The port is renowned as the most sustainable port of the nation achieving the coveted target of 100% solarization and 100% self-sufficiency in water requirements. The port is the biggest exporter of coffee and second largest importers of LPG in the whole of India. Being the only major port of Karnataka, the port has catered to the trade emerging from this vibrant hinterland for close to half a century. Now, on the occasion of Azadi ka Amrut Mahotsav, the port is ever ready to take on new challenges in realization of the aspiration of the nation, and thereby, the people of India.
As a part of the celebrations of Azadi ka Amrut Mahotsav, we at New Mangalore Port Trust (NMPT) have conducted free vaccination camps within the port premises for the benefit of the general public. As on September 21, 10,015 beneficiaries are vaccinated, which has boosted the vaccination drive among the fishermen and other local communities.
The port has conducted various competitions like elocution, essay writing, quiz, singing, dancing, drawing etc. on themes related to India’s struggle for independence and achievements post-independence among port employees & school children with a view to inculcate awareness of our Great Nation. In addition to the above, the port has contributed mats, bed spreads, washing machine, etc. to the nearby orphanage as per their request. The Port has also identified 11 freedom fighters from the neighbouring districts of Udupi and Chikmagalur for felicitation in January 2022. Also, an exhibition is planned where the heroic efforts of late local freedom fighters are researched, documented and exhibited for the awareness of the public.
Besides that, in association with the State Administration and Animal Husbandry Department, NMPT is also planning to initiate a project for relocating the stray cattle in and around the port to a cattle care centre. One batch of stray cattle from the port operational area has already been domesticated and shifted to a cattle care centre at Shivamogga.
