On Saturday, Udupi district marked the 80th Independence Day with great enthusiasm at the Mahatma Gandhi District Stadium in Ajjarkad. State Food and Civil Supplies Minister Rizwan Arshad, who is also the Udupi District In-charge Minister, hoisted the National Flag and delivered the Independence Day address. During his speech, Minister Arshad announced a new initiative to collect flowers used in temples across the district and convert them into eco-friendly products. He also highlighted several state government initiatives, including free bus passes for students and the launch of the ‘Praja Seva’ department to address public grievances. The minister noted that Udupi district has recorded a 29 per cent deficit in rainfall, but precautionary measures have been taken to mitigate the effects on agriculture and livestock. The district has also seen significant progress under various government schemes, including the Gruha Lakshmi scheme, which has credited ₹1,366 crore to the accounts of 2,13,712 beneficiaries. Udupi has also performed well in education, with a 99.58 per cent pass rate in the 2025–26 SSLC examinations and a 96.43 per cent pass rate in the Second PUC examinations. The district is also a major hub for fishing activities, with around 1.98 lakh fishermen engaged in the industry. Under the Jal Jeevan Mission, 525 projects have been taken up to provide clean drinking water to 2.47 lakh households in the district. The government is also prioritising youth empowerment, with a focus on village-stay programmes and a new ‘Udupi Civic Watch’ app to monitor waste disposal.
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📰 Source: Mangalorean News