Udupi: Dr V S Acharya, Higher education minister flagged off the 65th Independence day celebrations at the Mahatma Gandhi Statium, Ajjarakadu on August 15, Monday.

The school children presented a variety of cultural programmes reflecting Indian tradition and the achievers were honoured on the occasion.

Speaking on the occasion, Acharya appreciated the villages including Karkala taluk panchayat, Bola Gram panchayat, Maravanthe Gram panchayat and Belapu Grama panchayat for earning the credit of being clean and hygienic.

He also said that the state government designed the various developmental plans for the district.

MLA Raghupati Bhat, DC Dr M T Reju and SP Ravikumar Rai and others were present on the occasion.