The Gujarat government has decided to organise a foot march from Karamsad to Kevadiya covering a distance of around 150 km as part of the 150th birth anniversary celebrations of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
Karamsad in Anand district is the home village of Sardar Patel and the Statue of Unity of the freedom fighter is located in Kevadiya of Narmada district.
As part of the preparation of the footmarch, a meeting was held at the National Dairy Development Board in Anand on Sunday, in the presence of Union Ministers Mansukh Mandaviya and Nikhil Khadse, Gujarat minister Jitu Vaghani and others.
According to an official release, Mandaviya said that the footmarch will be an effective medium to take Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s contribution in the freedom struggle and for the unity of the country to the people.
He added that the foot march should be a symbol of simplicity in tune with the thoughts of Sardar Patel. He also suggested that students of National Service Scheme (NSS) can reach the rural areas where the march will pass through one week in advance to inform people about Sardar Patel’s life and works. Mandaviya also said that all those people in the village who have contributed to the development of the village should be felicitated during the march.
Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi said that local artists should disseminate information about Sardar Patel in cultural programmes during night stays.
Agriculture Minister Jitu Vaghani suggested spreading awareness about natural farming through exhibition stalls in villages falling on the route of the march. Farmers who have adopted natural farming should be felicitated, Vaghani suggested.
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The meeting was also attended by senior officials of Gujarat government and BJP party office bearers like state president Jagdish Vishwakarma, Ratnakar, Sunil Bansal, among others.
During the meeting, Principal Secretary of Department of Sports, Youth and Cultural Affairs Ashwani Kumar had given a detailed presentation on the preparations of the national foot march and also expressed commitment to hold it in consonance with the suggestions made by the ministers. The ministers and other dignitaries also visited Sardar Patel’s residence in Anand and paid tributes to him.
