New Delhi: The Chief Ministers of Delhi, Punjab, Odisha and Goa rolled out different initiatives for the citizens on the occasion of the country’s 75th Independence Day on Sunday.


Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announced the launch of ‘Deshbhakti’ curriculum in the government schools from September 27 and yoga classes in the residential areas from October 2.


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Kejriwal said the Delhi government schools will start teaching ‘Deshbhakti’ curriculum from September 27 as a tribute to freedom fighter Bhagat Singh.


"This will be an activity-based course in which the school children will be taught how to contribute to the development of the country and discharge their 'surya' and be ready to sacrifice even their lives for the nation," he said.


Kejriwal in his Independence Day address at the Delhi Secretariat paid homage to freedom fighters as well as to doctors, nurses and paramedics who lost their lives while serving the people during the Covid-19 pandemic.


Addressing the people after unfurling the tricolour, Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh vowed to protect the state against Pakistan’s "nefarious designs".


"We want peace but will not tolerate any aggression or attack on our territory," he said, adding any threat to Punjab will mean danger to entire India.


The Punjab Chief Minister also pledged to continue fighting with the farmers for the repeal of the Central government’s farm laws.


Meanwhile, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik announced that his government would provide smart health cards to 3.5 crore people in the state under the Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana.


Patnaik said the initiative will usher in a new era in Odisha’s health sector.


Asserting that Odisha is the first state in the country to provide such smart health cards, he noted the initiative will cover 3.5 crore people in 96 lakh families in a phased manner.


"News like people selling land and valuables or dropping their children out of schools to manage their treatment costs pains me. Hence, I have decided to take away such distress and provide hassle-free treatment to people at best available health care facilities," he said while addressing the state programme to celebrate the 75th Independence Day.


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Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on his part announced the state government will provide free tap water to all residents of the state from September this year.


Sawant, while delivering his speech on the 75th Independence Day, said the residents will be provided 16,000 litres of water free of cost per month.