Karwar: District In-charge Minister Shashikala Jolle said that it was due to the equal rights provided to every citizen of the country through the constitution prepared by Dr B R Ambedkar that even a common man including women have been able to enter politics and occupy high posts today.

Delivering the Republic Day address at Police Parade Ground in Karwar on Sunday, she said that the Indian Constitution is the longest written constitution in the world and believes in the principle of unity in diversity. It was the duty of every citizen to abide by the constitution to build a healthy democratic society.

After the tri-colour flag hoisting, the minister received the guard of honour in an open vehicle. In the march past, St Joseph NCC Naval contingent bagged the first prize, Youth & Sports Department contingent second and Government Polytechnic third.

Tulsi Gowda of Honnalli village in Ankola taluk who has been selected for this year’s Padma Shri Award was also felicitated by the district administration. Dance dramas by school students and other cultural programmes were also performed. Deputy Commissioner K Harishkumar, Superintendent of Police Shivaprakash Devaraju, Zilla Panchayat CEO M Roshan, Assistant Commissioner M Priyanga, MLA Roopali Naik, Zilla Panchayat President Jayashri Mogerand others were present.

Awards

Government employees were presented with ‘Sarvottam Seva’ awards for their service. Those felicitated were: Dr U H Lalita of Government Ayurvedic Hospital at Achave Changar in Ankola taluk, Deputy Director of District Social Welfare Department S Purushottam, Satish Hegde of Sirsi Deputy Director of Horticulture office, Shashikanth Janardhan Kolekar of Kumta PWD, Karwar Land Survey Department Deputy Director Raju Pujari, Joida Tahsildar office’s Prakash Gowda, Karwar Forest Department’s Raghavendra Naik, Religious Endowment Department’s Radha Sirsikar, Bhatkal Assistant Commissioner office’s Raju Naik and Karwar Revenue Department’s Prabhakar Naik.