To commemorate the completion of 75 years of India’s independence Caritas India team members spread across the lengths and breadths of the country celebrated the 75^th Independence Day with great enthusiasm and abundant joy. Among many celebrants included Caritas India’s Partners of Samvaad Peacebuilding Programme who connected and collaborated with multiple stakeholders across all six locations and took an initiative to celebrate this day with great pomp and show. Samvaad partners with major participation from CBO members, Shanti Samiti members (peace committees), volunteers and stakeholders, peace clubs, and youths participated in various programs like peace marches, skits, speeches, patriotic songs, and dance performances that were organised with immense enthusiasm on 15^th August.

“We experience true freedom when we commit our lives to good governance, practice our rights and responsibilities, where people of all religions, caste, and creed, rich and poor, can live in peace and harmony, with dignity and respect. We aim to build a democratic and progressive nation and to create social, economic, and political institutions which will ensure justice and fullness of life to everyone and, we may all enjoy and pray that we grow in love, brotherhood, and harmony.”

This was the message conveyed through the celebrations in different villages. The impact of the effort of the Samvaad team is being seen and well realized in the community. The eventful day witnessed heart-warming scenes of unity and coordination between different communities and institutions respectively. Shedding their individual baggage, people across backgrounds came together and shared a platform to carry out a peace march and host the national flag, delivering a strong message of harmony and social cohesion. In most of the villages, the celebrations were led by Gram Pradhan, PRI members, CBOs, teachers, along with animators.

Many enthusiastic youngsters took part in bike rallies through villages roads, with slogans expressing their love for the country and the need to live in unity and peace. There was a great joy and patriotic ambience in the atmosphere as people came onto the streets in big numbers, with flags in their hands. Flags were also hosted on each house under the “Har Ghar Tiranga campaign”.

These celebrations are intended to foster awareness of rights and duties and forward the message of national unity and peace. This would in turn lead to collaboration for the implementation of the Samvaad project and for the effective functioning of Gram panchayats for the development of the village system.

At Ramjanki Junior High School, Kakraha, Bhagdaria, DSWS, Lucknow, 245 children, teachers, and community people were present for flag hosting and rally.

Agra Catholic Social Service organization in collaboration with the village head and villagers in the project work area Novari village celebrated the day with around 150 children, women, and youngsters. On this occasion, the Amrit Sarovar built by the village head in village Novari was inaugurated by Union Minister Smt. Rani Maurya and Block Pramukh, Mr. Uttam Singh, who assured their cooperation and solutions for the problems of the villages. From the government department Agra Barauli Ahir Development Block, Block Development Officer, Lekpal, CDO, ASHA, AWW workers and village head, along with eight hundred community people were present on the occasion.

At BDSSC, Ashadeep- Amaria, partner of Caritas India Bareilly DSS, the programme was led by Gram Pradhan, PRI members, CBOs, teachers, along with animators. The community educators: reached out to as many villages as possible for active participation from men, women, youth, and children. After the flag hoisting, there was a group singing patriotic songs, dances, and speeches.

Meerut Seva Samaj – Meerut team approached not only CBOs, gram Shanti samities, and youths but also the stakeholders and religious leaders to elevate mutual harmony and promote peace by hoisting the flag together.

Samvaad Team, from Bijnor Diocese, Karuna Social Service Society, Kotdwar, celebrated this auspicious day of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav by remembering the sacrifices and selfless services of those, who fought for our freedom and wished to remain grateful for the freedom we all have. A tribute was paid to the nation with full participation from all village heads, CBO Members, peace club students, also like-minded organisations like Prem Dham Ashram, working for disabled children, Child-Line, and Bijnor. A “Tiranga Rally” was held to pay tribute to our National Flag in our intervention area Sahanpur, with the help of students and teachers around and 200 associated with peace clubs. Block Pramukh, Mr. Tapraj Singh, celebrated Independence Day with the programme members and motivated and appreciated everyone for carrying out a commendable job.