80th District-Level Independence Day Celebrated with Grandeur in Malkangiri
Mamata Jena, Odishabarta, District Correspondent
Minister Nityananda Gond Graces Ceremony as Chief Guest; Development Projects Inaugurated, Pattas, Laptops and Sports Materials Distributed
Malkangiri, August 15, 2026:The 80th District-Level Independence Day was celebrated with great enthusiasm and grandeur at the DNK Ground in Malkangiri on Saturday. Minister for School and Mass Education; Scheduled Tribes and Scheduled Castes Development; Minorities and Backward Classes Welfare; and Social Security and Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities,
Nityananda Gond, attended the समारोह as the Chief Guest and unfurled the National Flag.
Following the flag hoisting ceremony, the Minister reviewed the parade and felicitated the contingents that delivered outstanding performances in the parade and cultural programmes.
After the flag hoisting, Minister Gond launched a cleanliness drive at the DNK Ground. He subsequently inaugurated several development projects at different locations across the district.
These included a creche for children at the District Collectorate, Koraput Coffee outlet at the ITDA office, a Sports Complex at the Eklavya Model Residential School, a 60-bed hostel at the Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya at Chalanguda, a Bastra Upahar Kendra (clothing gift centre) at the Zilla Parishad office, and the Shaheed Laxman Nayak Memorial at the Women’s Higher Secondary School.
Later, fruits were distributed among patients at the District Headquarters Hospital as part of the Independence Day observance.
Addressing the gathering, Minister Gond said that under the leadership of Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, the Odisha Government is giving priority to the development and welfare of farmers, women, tribal communities and the youth.
He highlighted the establishment of a Matriculation (Class X) Board examination centre for the first time in the Swabhiman Anchal, an area once affected by Left-Wing Extremism, as a significant example of the region’s transformation and development.
Among those present at the ceremony were Malkangiri Collector Prathamesh Aravind Rajshirke, Superintendent of Police Vinod Patil, Malkangiri MLA Narsingh Madkami, Chitrakonda MLA Mangu Khila, Special Development Council Chairman Ganga Sodi, Vice-Chairperson Sabitri Padiami, Additional District Magistrate (Administration), Additional District Magistrate (Revenue), and other senior district-level officials.
As part of the Independence Day celebrations, a friendly football match was also organised in the afternoon at the local Sports Complex. Teams representing the Collector XI, SP XI, Media XI and District Lawyers XI participated in the friendly sporting event, adding to the festive spirit of the celebrations.
