This year, message of communal harmony from state I-Day parade

The state government will convey the message of communal harmony from this year's Independence Day parade on Red Road.

This comes at the time when Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee over and again criticised some people with vested interests who are trying to destabilise the communal peace and harmony in Bengal. She had urged people to become vigilant against such evil forces. She had also proposed to set up peace forces (shanti bahinis) in every booth to keep an eye on those who are trying to destroy the communal fabric of society.

According to sources in the state secretariat, this is the first time when a tableau based on the theme "Akotai Sampriti" (unity is harmony) will be a part of the parade on Red Road on Independence Day.

Concerned officials of the Information and Cultural Affairs Department have started working on the design of the tableau.

"The decision to present a tableau to spread the message of communal harmony has been taken keeping the present situation in mind. We have witnessed a series of attempts to disrupt the peace of the land and there could be no better platform than the Independence Day parade to spread the message across the state," the officer said.

Some tableaus with the message of "Akotai Sampriti" had set out for a tour across the state from Nabanna on May 20 when the Mamata Banerjee-government had completed its sixth year. But the tableaus on the same theme which will be a part of the Independence Day parade will be completely different from the previous ones.

The theme of the painting competition that the state government organises every year at Kolkata Information Centre in the afternoon of August 15 has also been selected accordingly, the officer said adding: "Students from Class V to VIII who will be participating in the competition will have to paint based on the given subject "Akotai Sampriti" and the subject for students from Class I to IV is "independence".

It will help in creating awareness among children about the tradition of communal peace and harmony of the state as certain "external forces" had become active in creating disturbances in the state by spreading rumours. A few weeks ago, Basirhat sub-division and its adjoining areas came under the grip of violence following a rumour that spread following a post that had become viral on social media.

Besides the tableau of the Information and Cultural Affairs Department based on "Akotai Sampriti", there will also be tableaus on other projects including Kanyashree, Sabujsathi, Sabujshree, Khadyasathi and Safe Drive Save Life. Fifty beneficiaries of each scheme will be participating in the parade.

Another interesting aspect of this year's Independence Day parade is that there will be a tableau of the Youth Services and Sports Department to popularise the Under-17 World Cup that is scheduled to be held in October.

It may be mentioned that it was only after the change of guard in the state, that the venue of the Independence Day programme was shifted to Red Road from in front of Writers' Buildings in 2012 to make it a grand show.

Personnel from Kolkata Police, West Bengal Police, Fire and Emergency Services Department, school children and artists from different parts of the state including North Bengal will be participating in the parade.