Calling for greater efforts in nation building, Vice-President M. Venkaiah Naidu has urged the youth to actively contribute their best to the cause of developing their native villages, schools and the country as a whole.
“True patriotism means that people should protect nature and nation. If we protect and preserve the bountiful nature, it will protect us in return,” he said, taking part in the ongoing Sankranthi celebrations held at the Swarna Bharat Trust at Venkatachalam here.
Mr. Naidu took part in various events here on Sunday and Monday as part of his visit to his native place and was scheduled to leave for Chennai on Tuesday morning.
Along with his family members, he took part in kite flying and ‘bhogi’ bonfire events that mark the highlights of the harvest festival being celebrated by young and old, women and children with fervour.
Mr. Naidu inaugurated a mega health camp held in the Trust premises with doctors from the Global Hospitals from Chennai and Hyderabad rendering their services.
He said there was a greater need for improving amenities in villages and this could be possible with the participation of one and all. Great personalities like Swami Vivekananda led a life of patriotism and idealism and one could live even after death only by doing good deeds for posterity, he added.
Mr. Naidu also held a review meeting with district Collector R. Mutyala Raju, Joint Collector A. Md. Intiyaz and other officials, who made a presentation on various developmental projects under way in the district.
Mr. Naidu sought details of the augmented drinking water supply project being executed with the HUDCO loan in Nellore city. The officials said 55% of the work had been completed at a cost of ₹307 crore and the main source of water was the Sangam barrage.
The other projects that came up were the proposed ₹242-cr fishing harbour at the Juvvaladinne coastal village, the outer ring road for Nellore city, ₹45-cr tertiary cancer hospital at the Nellore Medical College, the proposed railway coach factory in 527 acres at Bitragunta and modernisation of the Nellore railway station.
