Vizag observes Gandhi Jayanti, Shastri’s ideals through prison welfare, Khadi fair

Government Departments, public sector undertakings, civic bodies and voluntary organisations joined the nation in observing the birth anniversaries of Mahatma Gandhi and former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri on Friday in Visakhapatnam, organising programmes highlighting their ideals of truth, non-violence, cleanliness and service.

Gandhi Jayanti was observed as Prisoner’s Welfare Day at Visakhapatnam Central Jail. Principal District & Sessions Judge G. Srinivas presided over the programme, attended by District Collector M. Abhishikt Kishore, DLSA secretary R. Sanyasi Naidu, Central Prison Superintendent B. Chandrasekhar, Deputy Superintendent, Ch. Surya Kumar, and prison officials.

Certificates were distributed to prisoners who successfully completed the Office Assistant course, an IT-based skill-development course initiated by the Prisons Department. Prizes were also distributed to prisoners who won various sports and games conducted as part of Prisoner’s Welfare Day.

Addressing the gathering, Principal District & Sessions Judge G. Srinivas said prisoners should regard their period in jail not merely as a term of punishment but as an opportunity for training and transformation, so that they could return to society as responsible citizens after their release.

District Collector Abhishikt Kishore said the administration was providing prisoners with training through the Skill Development Institute and employment opportunities in prison industries, along with wages, to facilitate their rehabilitation. He also assured support for mobilising CSR funds for prisoner welfare initiatives.

Khadi Santha at school

At another programme in Pedawaltair, city-based Bhagavathula Charitable Trust Residential High school organised a ‘Khadi Santha’ near Sri Karakachettu Polamamba Temple to mark Gandhi Jayanti. Visakhapatnam MP M. Sribharat inaugurated the exhibition and called for greater promotion of Khadi, Swadeshi and indigenous products.

Mr. Sribharat said the lives and ideals of Mahatma Gandhi and Lal Bahadur Shastri continued to inspire people and stressed the need to support locally made products, artisans, handicrafts and traditional livelihoods. He later visited the stalls and interacted with artisans and organisers. East MLA Velagapudi Ramakrishna Babu and others were present.

At Steel Plant

The Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL), corporate entity of Visakhapatnam Steel Plant, also observed Gandhi Jayanti at Ukkunagaram. RINL CMD and Additional Charge Director (Personnel) M.N.V.S. Prabhakar garlanded the statue of Mahatma Gandhi and paid floral tributes. He recalled Gandhiji’s services, principles and moral values and said they continued to have relevance in contemporary society. RINL directors, senior officers, children and residents of Ukkunagaram attended the programme.

CREDAI Visakhapatnam, in association with Rotary Blood Bank and Life Share Blood Centre, organised a blood donation camp to mark Gandhi Jayanti. Around 80 people donated blood voluntarily. Vizag Runners supported the initiative.

The programmes held at different locations across the city focused on translating the ideals associated with Gandhi and Shastri into activities relating to cleanliness, self-reliance, community service, environmental conservation, skill development and rehabilitation.