For the first time in the history of independent India, the Army Day Parade is set to be organised in a public setting outside a cantonment area in Jaipur on 15 January, officials said on Saturday.
A meeting to review arrangements for the 78th Army Day event was chaired by Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Bhaskar A. Sawant. District Collector Jitendra Kumar Soni briefed the meeting on seating arrangements for spectators as well as entry and exit routes. He has urged educational institutions and organisations to submit details of the number of participants expected to attend the parade by Monday to enable better planning.
Naveen Jain, Principal Secretary, General Administration Department, said, "The parade will mark a historic moment as it will be organised in a public setting outside the cantonment area for the first time in the country."
He said the state government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma, is making special efforts to ensure wide public participation so that people can closely witness the valour, discipline, and traditions of the Indian Army.
Security arrangements have been put in place, with police, traffic police, and other security agencies working in coordination to ensure the smooth conduct of the event, officials said.
Cantonments in India
After the first Kashmir War, independent India set up cantonments in Badamibagh (Srinagar) and Jammu (both 1954), Morar (1956), Dehu Road (1958), Babina (1959), and Ajmer (1962).
The Cantonments Act, 2006, introduced more democracy, providing more power to civil members. Narasimha Rao’s 74th Amendment to the Constitution gave a third of the elected seats to women. Larger cantonment boards were allowed up to 16 members, eight of them politically elected. The local MP and MLA were made special invitees to board meetings.
