Tuesday, Aug 12, 2003
Tuesday, Aug 12, 2003 |
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Andhra Pradesh
By Our Special Correspondent
The massive turnout can be possible in a State whose population is a little over 7 crores due to repeaters, tourists and other types of visitors, all from within the State, adding to the actual pilgrims taking the holy dip, and people from other States, he said. The confidence gained by families during the later days, seeing the arrangements made by the Government providing safety and basic comforts, was also a deciding factor. At a wrap-up press conference of the Pushakarams here this evening, a smiling Mr. Naidu attributed the success also to the fact that people, regardless of caste, creed and community, had associated themselves with the Godavari which was their lifeline, being pure at heart and disciplined at the ghats, and that the Government staff and everybody else, including Ministers, elected representatives, etc, worked with service motive. The Chief Minister said people from other faiths, a large number of them being Muslims as at Dharmapuri, also thronged the ghats and even performed the rituals. By such a massive convergence, people gave a clear message to the nation that they could live together and that, after all, the feelings of individuals were identical. If the tempo was maintained, he hoped, the Swarnandhrapradesh would be achieved much earlier than 2020. Mr .Naidu turned spiritual, saying the pilgrims took the dip in the holy river and had "darshan'' in adjacent temples with a "sankalpam'' seeking benefits and boons from the Almighty for the family and for society and appealed to them to add a Government "sankalpam'' also hereafter in their pujas and prayers -- be it in the temple or church or mosque. The Government sankalpam, he explained, was a five-point one --family planning, literacy, tree plantation, water conservation and communal harmony. Replying to questions, the smooth conduct of the Pushkarams would not have been possible but for the stupendous work turned out by 21 departments of the Government, including Irrigation, Endowments, and Municipal Administration. An encouraging fact was that the cumulative assessment out of two independent surveys and one by Government was that 94 per cent of the pilgrims positively described the facilities and conduct of the event as "good or very good.'' With the Principal Revenue Secretary, J. P. Murthy, and the Commissioner for Endowments, D. S. Murthy, by his side, the Chief Minister said, they were contemplating issuing participation certificates to staff, officials, volunteers, and cash awards for the best services rendered, especially that relating to rescue of the pilgrims in the river.
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