CM LEADS STATE IN PAYING TRIBUTES TO FREEDOM FIGHTERS AS GOA CELEBRATES ITS LIBERATION DAY
Panaji, December 19, 2025
Goa’s Liberation Day was marked with solemnity and pride at the State-level function held at Goa University ground, Santa Cruz, today. Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant unfurled the national flag and led the flag salute ceremony commemorating the State’s freedom from Portuguese rule on December 19, 1961, following decades of valiant struggle by freedom fighters.
Paying heartfelt tributes to the martyrs who laid down their lives for Goa’s Liberation, the Chief Minister honoured their supreme sacrifice while remembering Goa’s former Chief Minister, the late Manohar Parrikar, who he said was the architect of modern Goa, whose visionary leadership he said built upon the developmental foundations laid by Goa’s first Chief Minister, the late Dayanand Bandodkar.
Addressing the gathering further, Dr Sawant underscored Goa’s remarkable progress despite joining the Indian Union 14 years after India’s Independence. “Even though Goa attained freedom 14 years later, our State today leads in various sectors such as education and healthcare facilities. “We have achieved 100 percent literacy rate and successfully completed the ‘Har Ghar Jal Mission’, ensuring tap water supply to every household in the state,” he stated.
The Chief Minister appealed to all Goan citizens to join hands in building an Atmanirbhar Goa, emphasizing that the Government remains committed to development while preserving unity, cleanliness, greenery, and Goa’s identity as a premier tourism destination. He also extended a warm invitation to visitors, saying that Goa welcomes every tourist with the spirit of Atithi Devo Bhava.
On the occasion, the Chief Minister’s Fire Service Medal for Meritorious Services was awarded to Shri Neelesh Fernandes, Station Fire Officer, Panaji, Shri Aniket Anant Amonkar, Fire Fighter, Fire Station Ponda and Shri Janga R. Gohar, Leading Fire Fighter, Panaji.
The Goa Chief Minister’s Fire Service Medal for Gallantry Service was awarded to Shri Avinash U. Gaonkar, Fire Fighter, Ponda.
The Chief Minister’s Police (Gold) Medal for Meritorious Service was awarded to Shri Sagar P. Ekoskar, Dy. S.P., Shri Rajesh Kumar, Dy. S.P., Smt. Sudiksha S. Naik, L.P.I., Shri Subhash Malvankar, ASI, Shri Bhalchandra V. Sawant, HC, Shri Melwin Dias, HC, Shri Amardeep Choudhary, PC, Shri Rama G. Kambli, Driver, Home Guards and Civil Defence, Panaji, Ms. Vidhya U. Talwar, Lady Home Guard Volunteer, Panaji Division, Shri Rupesh Y. Parvatkar, Civil Defence Warden, Mormugao Town and Adv. Harsha Naik, Civil Defence, Panaji Town.
Present on the occasion were Minister for Revenue, Shri Atanasio Monserrate, Leader of Opposition, Shri Yuri Alemao, Chief Secretary, Dr V. Candavelou, Advocate General, Devidas Pangam, freedom fighters, students and others.
Various cultural programmes were performed by the students at the occasion.
DI/INF/NB/KM/2025/1057