Grama sabha meetings mark Gandhi Jayanthi

Coimbatore: Grama sabha meetings were held at 228 village panchayats across the district to mark Gandhi Jayanthi celebrations. District collector Kranthi Kumar Pati participated in the grama sabha meeting at Vadaputhur village panchayat as a special guest and honoured sanitary workers with shawls in recognition of their services.In his address, the collector emphasised on the importance of solid waste management in rural areas. He urged the public to reduce waste generation at their houses, recycle whatever possible and avoid the use of plastic products. He also advised the residents to segregate waste into biodegradable and non-biodegradable before handing it over to sanitary workers.He also highlighted various training programmes available for the self-help groups under the women's welfare scheme. "These programmes assist women in securing bank loans to start their own businesses," he said while encouraging women to join self-help groups to improve their economic standing.The collector later received petitions from the public and instructed officials concerned to take prompt action on them. Officials with various departments, meanwhile, briefed the public on ongoing govt schemes.Earlier in the day, the collector had inaugurated khadi sale at the Khadi Kraft store on Avinashi Road.City mayor K Ranganayaki paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi by garlanding his statue on the corporation office premises in the presence of deputy mayor R Vetriselvan and other corporation officials.