Independence Day fervour was marred by unfurling of blackflags by Maoists in some Naxal-hit areas of Odisha while the day was celebratedwith gaiety elsewhere amid tight security.
Though the day was celebrated amid patriotic fervour in mostparts with Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik unfurling the Tricolour in the statecapital, some remote areas in Maoist-affected districts like Malkangiri,Koraput and Gajapati saw hoisting of black flags by the ultras.
Despite tight security, Maoists hoisted black flags and putup posters and banners near several schools and panchayat offices in Kalimela,Khairput, Chitrakonda and Guma areas of naxal-hit Malkangiri district where theultras had asked people to refrain from celebrating the republic day.
Similarly, in Koraput district black flags and posters wereseen in about half-a-dozen remote places of Narayanpatna and Bandhugaon areaswith a call to boycott the celebrations and observe black day, sources said.
In his address at the main function on Mahatma Gandhi Roadin Bhubaneswar, the chief minister announced launch of an scheme name"Mamata" for pregnant and lactating women and infants in urban areas.
The programme has already been in force since last year inrural areas of the state.
As part of efforts to spread education, bicycles would beprovided free to all class ten students living below the poverty line alongwith the scheme already existing only for girl students, Patnaik said.
In order to ensure effective empowerment of women, 50 percent of seats would be reserved for the fair sex in urban local bodies asalready done in panchayati raj institutions, Patnaik said.
Describing welfare of tribals and dalits and saving themfrom exploitation as a priority, the chief minister listed schemes like the Rstwo a kg rice for poor being implemented in the state.
Recognising agriculture as the mainstay of economy, Patnaiksaid one lakh deep borewells would be in place in next three years to irrigate10 lakh hectares of land besides expanding lift irrigation facilities tobenefit farmers.
Elaborate security arrangements were made in Maoist infesteddistricts with heavy force deployment and intensive patrolling to prevent anyuntoward incident in view of the threat from the ultras.
The celebrations passed off peacefully with no report ofviolence from any part, police said.