Mumbai, April 3 Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday called for celebrating the birth anniversary of Dr B R Ambedkar as a "festival of his thoughts" and stressed the need to spread the Dalit icon's ideas and contributions across all sections of society.
Chairing a meeting to review preparations for Ambedkar's 135th birth anniversary on April 14, Fadnavis stated that the Constitution and vision provided by the great leader continue to guide the nation's progress.
Celebrating the birth anniversaries of great leaders should go beyond ritual and serve as a means to pass on their ideas and inspiration to future generations, a release from the chief minister's office (CMO) quoted Fadnavis as saying.
"The Constitution given by Dr Ambedkar is among the finest in the world, and its inclusive principles are helping India move towards becoming a developed nation," he said.
The state government has been making efforts every year to make the celebrations more meaningful and grand, the chief minister said.
As lakhs of followers are expected to visit Chaityabhoomi in Dadar on April 14 to pay their tributes, the chief minister asked officials to make arrangements considering the summer season, including shelters to protect visitors from the heat, adequate drinking water facilities and proper traffic management in Dadar and nearby areas.
He also instructed authorities to install information boards for the public and ensure sufficient bus services between Dadar railway station and Chaityabhoomi.
Social Justice Minister Sanjay Shirsat said that an initiative to take the Constitution to every household is being implemented through district collectors' offices to raise awareness among citizens.
Student hostels are being built on a large scale in line with Ambedkar's message of "Educate, Organise, and Agitate", and special initiatives will be undertaken this year as part of the celebrations, he said.
A drone show based on Dr Ambedkar's life will be held at Chaityabhoomi on April 13, he added.
The meeting discussed arrangements, including a police ceremonial salute, a helicopter floral tribute, accommodation facilities, emergency and medical services, exhibition pavilions and decoration of the memorial site, the CMO release stated.