Mangaluru: While asking people to maintain peace and tranquillity in Dakshina Kannada, B. Ramanath Rai, Minister in-charge of Dakshina Kannada, on Friday affirmed the State government’s commitment to work for the development of all communities.

“The all-round development of the nation should be the sole goal of all,” he said.

Speaking at the Republic Day celebrations here on Friday, Mr. Rai said the State government was working to improve the lives of the residents.

Mr. Rai said the Mukhyamantri Anila Bhagya scheme will be rolled out shortly for which 49,618 beneficiaries have been identified in Dakshina Kannada.

To start with, 15,838 below poverty line families will receive domestic gas connection and a cooking gas stove, he said.

Apart from providing 7 kg of rice to each of the BPL families under the Anna Bhagya scheme, Mr. Rai said the government is coming up with Indira Canteens across the State where food will be provided at a highly subsidised cost.

As many as 10 such canteens are coming up in the district, he said.

Dakshina Kannada, the Minister said, is at the forefront in processing applications for regularisation of unauthorised occupation of government land in rural areas (applications under 94 C) and in urban areas (applications under 94 CC).

Earlier, Mr. Rai hoisted the national flag and received the guard of honour.

He gave away sarvottama awards to six government employees. They are T.N. Revati, Accounts Officer in the Office of Chief Executive Officer Dakshina Kannada Zilla Panchayat; Gokuldas Nayak, Joint Director, District Industries Centre; Gurumurthy A., Assistant Director in the Office of the Deputy Director of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services; N. Shivaprakash, Bantwal Block Education Officer; Sheshappa Bambila, Second Divisional Assistant, Government Wenlock Hospital, and Lakshman Poojary, Junior Engineer, Mangaluru City Corporation.