West Bengal today joined the rest of the nation in celebrating the Independence Day with variety of programmes. The main programme was held at Barrack Pur, Gandhi Ghat where the Governor Mr. M. K. Naraynan offered floral tribute at the Martyrs column. The Chief Minister Mr. Budhdhadeb Bhattacharyjee hoisted the national tri colour in front of the State Secretariat in the morning to mark the day. Other programmes of the day include all faith prayer meeting, exhibition, seminar and reception of freedom fighter. The state is also observing the birth day of Rishi Aurobindo today.In Andaman and Nicobar islands, the Independence Day is being celebrated across the islands with great enthusiasm and patriotic fervour.In the tribal islands including the southernmost tip, Campbell bay and Car Nicobar colourful cultural programmes, tribal folk dances, boat races, rural sports and children's rallies mark the celebration. Despite widespread rains a large number of tribal people including captains and chief captains of various tribal councils enthusiastically participated in the programmes. Manipur Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh has appealed to militant organisations to lay down arms and join the mainstream by participating in the development programmes. Speaking on the occasion of the 64th Independence Day at the first Manipur Rifles parade ground amid tight security in view of the boycott called by insurgent organisations, Singh said violence will not provide any solution and asked militants to come to the negotiation table for discussing their problems.In Puducherry Chief Minister Mr. V. Vaithilingam called upon people to work unitedly to fulfill the ultimate dream of our forefathers of achieving social and economic freedom for every citizen and build an egalitarian society. Unfurling the National flag at a colourful function held at Indira Gandhi Sports Complex in Puducherry on the occasion of the 64th Independence Day, the chief Minister asked the people to co-operate the Government in maintaing peace and harmony which are very essential for the development and welfare of the society. Independence Day celebrations in Karnataka commenced with unfurling of the National Flag by Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa. In his address, the Chief Minister mentioned about strides taken by his government and efforts taken to take the state forward on the path of progress. In Bihar Chief Minister Nitish kumar has declared 10 remaining districts of the state drought hit. After unfurling the tricolor at Gandhi Maidan in Patna Mr. Kumar said earlier 28 districts of the were declared drought hit now all 38 district of the state are included in the famine hit list. He exhorted people to come forward to tackle drought in the state . Nitish Kumar said the state government will extend all support to drought affected people and no body will be allow to starve due to drought. AIR Patna Correspondent reports that the Chief Minister announced welfare measures for drought affected people. In Madhya Pradesh, the Independence Day is being celebrated with enthusiasm and gaiety across the state. Our Bhopal correspondent reports that security has been heightened throughout the state with policemen deployed for security checks at public places. Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mr. Omar Abdullah today urged youth of the state to halt their violent protests and stone pelting during the holy month of Ramzan. Addressing the state level independence day function at Bakshi Stadium in Srinagar, the Chief Minister appealed to the separatist Leaders to come to the negotiating table for political solution of the problem. Earlier, an Assistant Sub Inspector of Police who was sitting in the VIP stand hurled a shoe towards the Chief Minister. The ASI who also raised slogan and waived black flag was arrested on spot. The Chief Minister, was however unmoved and he inspected the parade and addressed the audience. Independence day was celebrated in Goa as in the rest of the country. Several functions were held to mark the occasion. The main state level function was held in front of the old secretariat building in Panaji where the Chief Minister Mr. Digambar Kamat unfurled the National flag, inspected guard of honour and addressed the state. Speaking on the occasion the Chief Minister called upon the people of the state to support governmental efforts to ensure that various schemes of the govt. reach the grass root level. He said the government will institute a bravery award from 19th Dec. this year to honour those people who risk their lives to save the lives of other people. Flag hoisting ceremonies were also held at all taluka levels. In Himachal Pradesh, the Chief Minister Mr. Prem Kumar Dhumal took the salute at the parade and announced 8 per cent Dearness Allowance to state government employees and pensioners. The Government has also announced to increase the rate of daily wages from 110 rupees to 120 rupees. Chief Minister also announced various health schemes for BPL family, infant and women. While, Patriotic fervour and gaiety marked the Independence Day celebrations in Lakshadweep, despite intermittent rains in the region. The Lakshadweep Administrator Mr. J K Dadoo unfurled the National Flag at the Stadium Grounds at Kavarathi this morning and took salute. Later Mr Dadoo also distributed tree saplings, smokeless choolas to selected beneficiaries and inaugurated a day care centre for physically challenged children. At the Southern Naval Command headquarters in Kochi, Flag Officer Commanding in Chief, Vice Admiral K N Sushil laid a wreath at the War Memorial and reviewed the ceremonial parade. In Chhattisgarh, the Independence Day is being celebrated with traditional gaiety all over the state today. The state level function was organised at the Police Parade ground in capital Raipur amidst tight security. While the Chief Minister Dr. Raman Singh hoisted the national flag in the capital, his cabinet colleagues and other leaders hoisted the tricolour in different district headquarters across the state. In Orissa, the independence day is being celebrated all over the state with the state-level parade held at Bhubaneswar this morning. Chief Minister of Orissa, Mr. Naveen Patnaik, hoisted the national flag and came down heavily in his address on the Maoists for blocking the road of development. Mar Patnaik said efforts of the maoists to weaken India will never be successful. In Sikkim, the Chief Minister Mr.Pawan Chamling launched the Universal Financial Inclusion Programme to mark the Independence Day at a function at Paljor Stadium in Gangtok . The programme will cover all the married rural women in the state empowering them economically by opening their separate bank accounts.Kerala Chief Minister Mr. V. S.Achuthanandan led the peopleof the state in celebrating the 64th Independence Day by hoisting the tri-colour and taking salute from the police force atThiruvanathapuram. Addressing an impressive parade, the Chief Minister said that religious tolerance and secular tradition is the corner stone of Indian democracy. In Sikkim, the Chief Minister Mr.Pawan Chamling launched the Universal Financial Inclusion Programme to mark the Independence Day at a function at Paljor Stadium in Gangtok . The programme will cover all the married rural women in the state empowering them economically by opening their separate bank accounts.Joining the nation in celebrating the 64 th independence day, Maharashtra chief Minister Mr. Ashok Chavan today unfurled the national tri colour in the state secretariat. Addressing a gathering in Mumbai, Mr. Chavan said in spite of being ahead in economic, social, industrial and educational progress in compared to other states, Maharashtra needs to work further towards retaining its name in development of the same. He said the government is planning for development in these sectors taking into consideration the changing scenario in next 50 years. Expressing satisfaction over monsoon, the chief minister said the he hopes to see a good agricultural production this year. Reminding of government’s scheme of providing loan of Rs 50,000 free of interest to the farmers, Mr Chavan said the farmers from this year can take advantage of the same to increase their agricultural production. Speaking on the steps taken to contain Malaria, Mr Chavan said steps has been taken to strengthen the health machinery to fight effectively for the speared and treatment of the disease. He further said similar steps have also been taken to fight Swine Flu in parts of Pune and other affected areas. Speaking on the problem of load shedding faced by the people of the state, Mr Chavan said the government is trying by all means to end power crisis by 2012. Mr Chavan said that he sees a great opportunity in tourism industry in providing employment. He said the state is trying to organise the sector in more effective way to address the issue of unemployment and further added that the government has declared 2011 as the tourism year to promote the industry. In Haryana, the state level Independence day celebrations were organised at Narnaul, where Chief Minister Bhupender Singh Hooda unfurled the national flag and paid tributes to the freedom fighters. Addressing people on the occasion of Independence Day, Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda today announced to increase pension of freedom fighters and widows of freedom fighters from 6,000 rupees to 11,000 rupees per month. He said that People of Haryana had also participated in the freedom struggle and sacrificed their lives to free India from Brithishers.Chief Minister said that Haryana alongwith country has made manyfold progress in every field after Independence and special emphasis has been given to Industrial development. He said that Haryana is among those states who contribute maximum foodgrains in their central pool and it has become possible because of hardworking farmers of the state. In Bhiwani, despite heavy rain and water logging today, the Independence day is celebrated with great fervor and Jawans of forces and school students participated in the parade. At Faridabad, Haryana Governor unfurled the national flag and paid tributes to the martyrs of the country. He said that Faridabad people had largerly contributed in the freedom struggle of the country and now the district has significantly contributed in the development of state and nation. He said that hurdles in the way of taking Metro rail to Faridabad had been removed and it will help in further development In Meghalaya, state chief minister Dr. Mukul Sangma unfurling the tricolour at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Shillong today called upon people not to give support to terror groups which emerged as a global problem posing a threat to national and international peace and security. He said Meghalaya is progressing step by step by the honest endeavour of the state and central government. Dr Sangma said the state government is committed to achieve higher rate of growth in the field of agriculture, irrigation employment and tourism. He said that the improved relation between India and Bangladesh has left a strong impact on the moral and capability of the unlawful terrorist activities on the alongside of the Indo- Bangla boarder in Meghalaya. The Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Prakash Singh Badal has said that in the last 63 years of Independence, our great nation has emerged as the World’s largest democracy with a firm commitment to peace, harmony and progress. Addressing the people of the State after hoisting the National Flag at a state level function to celebrate the occasion at Ferozepur, today, the Chief Minister proudly recalled the unique and unparalleled role of Punjabis in the freedom movement and in the progress of the country as well as the state. He also honoured more than two dozen people for their meritorious services to the state in various fields. Nagaland has also joined the rest of the country in celebrating the Independence Day with patriotic fervor. In the State Capital Kohima Chief Minister Mr. Neiphiu Rio unfurled the Tri -colour and took the salute at the State Secretariat Plaza. He renewed his appeal to the people to maintain peace and calm.