<p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222;">Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde today said that efforts are on to make the state a leading one in the country.  Addressing the people of the state after hoisting the tricolor at the premises of Mantralaya in Mumbai on the occasion of the 75th year of the country's Independence he appealed to the citizens to vow to take the country and the state on the path of development.</span></p>''<p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222;">Mr. Shinde said that the Covid pandemic kept people indoors for the last two years.</span></p>''<p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222;"><br />''</span></p>''<p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222;">The CM said that we all are celebrating the 75 years of India's Independence with great enthusiasm and asserted that the ensuing Ganesh festival, Dahi Handi, and other festivals too will be celebrated with excitement by taking necessary precautions.  </span></p>''<p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222;">Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court Dipankar Dutta, former MLA Jaykumar Raval, state chief secretary Manukumar Shrivastav and other senior officials of the state government were present on the occasion.</span></p>''<p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222;"><br />''</span></p>''<p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222;">The Chief Minister said among the state government's first priorities are Common man, Farmers, farm Labourers and people from the weaker section of the society.</span></p>''<p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222;"><br />''</span></p>''<p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222;">The Chief Minister said that, it is estimated that 15 lakh hectares of land has been destroyed in the flood-ravaged 28 districts of the state. The state government has decided to provide double financial assistance beyond the NDRF norms to those affected with floods, he added.</span></p>''<p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222;"><br />''</span></p>''<p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222;">He said that since the new government came to power in Maharashtra, the state government is in constant touch with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah and has been regularly discussing the topics of developments. He directed the officials to implement all the programmes of the Central Government across the state.</span></p>''<p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222;"><br />''</span></p>''<p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222;">The Chief Minister also hoisted the national tricolour at his official residence in South Mumbai on the occasion of 76th Independence Day. He was accompanied by his wife Lata Shinde, son Shrikant Shinde, who is also the MP from Kalyan Lok Sabha Constituency and Minister for Tourism & Skill Development Mangal Prabhat Lodha.  </span></p>''<p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222;"><br />''</span></p>''<p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222;">Flag hoisting ceremonies were held in all the districts of the state by the ministers and respective district collectors.</span></p>''<p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222;"><br />''</span></p>''<p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222;">Meanwhile, as part of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav celebrations marking 75 years of India's Independence, a Ceremonial Parade was held at INS Shikra today. Vice Admiral Ajendra Bahadur Singh, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command took the salute and inspected a 50-men Guard. He later reviewed the platoons comprising naval personnel drawn from all ships, submarines and shore establishments. The parade was attended by all Flag Officers and Commanding Officers in Mumbai.</span></p>''<p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222;"><br />''</span></p>''<p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222;">The Commander-in-Chief also paid homage to all personnel that made the supreme sacrifice in service to the nation by placing a floral wreath at the Gaurav Stambh, the Victory at Sea Memorial at Naval Dockyard, Mumbai.</span></p>