Team Herald
PANJIM: The 51st first death anniversary of Goa’s first Chief Minister Dayanand ‘Bhausaheb’ Bandodkar was observed across the State on Monday.
Bandodkar died in office on August 12 1973 at the age 62. He was seen as a leader of the Bahujan Samaj and worked for upliftment of the downtrodden. Bandodkar laid the foundation for the development of Goa by building primary schools and primary health centres in villages, introducing the concept of tourism hostels, industrial estates etc, on which subsequent chief ministers expanded. In his initial years, he propagated the merger of Goa with Maharashtra and Marathi as the official language of Goa.
On the occasion, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant attended and addressed a programme organised by the Gomantak Maratha Samaj, and distributed the Samaj Bhushan Puraskar to various people.
Speaking on occasion, Sawant said that late Bhausaheb Bandodkar laid the foundation for modern Goa with focus on education. He urged everyone to take inspiration from the legacy of Bandodkar to build Swayampurna Goa and Viksit Bharat.
Speaking to mediapersons after laying a wreath at the Bandodkar’s memorial, the Chief Minister informed that the renovation work of Bandodkar's Samadhi Sthal would be taken up on a war footing. He said that the designs were ready and family members will be taken into confidence before starting the renovation work.
Addressing concerns regarding maintenance and upkeep of Samadhisthal, he assured that all steps will be taken to maintain the place.
Thereafter, the Chief Minister garlanded the statue of Bhausaheb Bandodkar at the Old Secretariat, Panjim and then at Secretariat, Porvorim, offering floral tributes to the former leader of Goa.
During a programme at Pernem, former Minister Ramakant Khalap announced the first Bhausaheb Bandodkar Memorial Award to Ashutosh Apa Teli from the taluka, and 2002 batch IAS officer of Rajasthan cadre.
The award will be presented to Teli on March 12 next year, on the occasion of 104th birth anniversary of late Bandodkar.