Parades, felicitations mark fete in central, south TN

Madurai/Trichy: Hoisting of the tricolour, colourful display of cultural programmes, and felicitations of service by people from various fields marked Independence Day celebrations in south and central Tamil Nadu districts on Friday.Madurai collector K J Praveen Kumar unfurled the National Flag at Armed Reserve ground in the city in the presence of Prem Anand Sinha, IG, south zone, J Loganathan, city commissioner of police, and other senior officials. Accompanied by SP Arvind, he accepted the guard of honour during the parade and released white doves. Freedom fighters and their kin were honoured with shawls. Welfare assistance worth Rs42.2 lakh was distributed to 42 beneficiaries.As many as 317 people were felicitated with certificates and shields for their service in various govt departments and for social work. ‘Green Champion' awards were won by G Ashok Kumar and S Sathish Kumar, while the group award was won by ‘Yanaimalai Green Foundation' led by govt school headmaster M Thennavanan. More than 1,000 students from eight schools performed cultural programmes. In Trichy, collector V Saravanan hoisted the national flag at the celebrations at Armed Reserve Police Ground. Police parades and cultural events were presented. Saravanan also distributed welfare aids worth Rs18.15 lakh to ten beneficiaries. Central zone IG Joshi Nirmal Kumar, Trichy range DIG V Varun Kumar, city police commissioner N Kamini, superintendent of police S Selvanagarathinam, and senior officials from various departments were present.Madurai corporation's celebrations were held at Aringar Anna Maligai in the presence of mayor V Indrani Ponvasanth, commissioner Chitra Vijayan and others. The 13 corporation schools that secured the first three ranks in Class X and Class XII public examinations were recognised and six headmasters who achieved 100% pass result received mementoes. A total of 67 sanitary workers, as well as doctors and health officials who worked in sanitation, were presented with appreciation certificates.The administrative judge of Madurai bench of Madras high court, Justice S M Subramaniam, hoisted the national flag at the bench campus. Justice S M Subramaniam inspected the guard of honour presented by CISF personnel. At Sri Meenakshi Sundareswarar temple, special prayers were conducted, and a grand public feast was organised. Clothes such as sarees and dhotis received as donations by the temple were given away to elderly and abandoned persons. At Govt Rajaji Hospital in Madurai, the flag was hoisted by dean Dr L Arul Sundaresh Kumar. In the delta region, collectors B Priyanka Pankajam, V Mohanachandran, P Akash, and HS Srikanth unfurled the tricolours and led the celebrations in Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, and Mayiladuthurai respectively. Collectors M Aruna, M Thangavel, P. Arunraj, and P. Rathinasamy led in Pudukottai, Karur, Perambalur, and Ariyalur, respectively. The collectors honoured freedom fighters, awarded officials for excellence, and witnessed cultural events. They also participated in the grama sabha in villages on the occasion.

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