Tamil Nadu - Chennai   

Chief Minister presents gallantry awards

— Photo: M. Vedhan

WATCHING WITH INTEREST: Governor Surjit Singh Barnala and Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi at the cultural programme performed by students at the Republic Day celebrations in Chennai on Saturday.

CHENNAI: The 59th Republic Day was celebrated at the Marina here on Saturday with Governor Surjit Singh Barnala unfurling the National Flag and Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi presenting gallantry awards.

After the Governor hoisted the flag, a Coast Guard helicopter showered petals on the function venue.

The Governor took the salute at the ceremonial marchpast in which contingents of the Army, Navy and Air Force, Central Reserve Police Force, Central Industrial Security Force, Railway Protection Force, Chennai City Police, Mounted Police, Tamil Nadu Commando Force (men and women), Tamil Nadu Fire Service, Home Guard, NCC, Bharat Scouts and ex-servicemen participated.

The Chief Minister distributed Anna Medal for Gallantry-2008 to M.S. Ravikumar and M. Nagaraj, both of Nagapattinam, S. Natarajan of Krishnagiri, P. Joseph Sudhakar of Coimbatore and, posthumously, to R. Pandaram of Tiruchi.

The award consists of a medal, Rs. 10,000 and a citation.

The Centre’s Jeevan Raksha Padak was presented to Selvi Sonia of Medayakkollai village in Thanjavur district and P. Kanchana, secondary grade teacher, Panchayat Union Middle School, Achamangalam village, Vellore district.

The Kottai Ameer Communal Harmony Award was given S. Thillai Natarajan of Theni district. The award includes a medal and Rs.25,000. The Gandhi Adigal Police Medal was given to S. Selsam Monicka Rao, Additional Superintendent of Police, Prohibition Enforcement Wing, Tirunelveli district, K. Narahyanamoorthy, Dy.SP, Vellore district, S. Karthikeyan, Inspector of Police, Vellore district, and Ganapthy Soundararajan, SI, Kancheepuram district. Each winner was given a lump sum grant of Rs.20,000.

A total of 20 departments, including Agriculture, Co-optex, Cooperation, Environment, I&PR, Tourism, Police, Rural Development, Industries, Horticulture, Adi Dravidar Welfare, BSNL, TWAD, and Fisheries took part in the pageantry of floats highlighting various government programmes.

A carnival of school and college students and cultural programmes by the South Zone Cultural Centre, Thanjavur, and I&PR Department also marked the R-Day celebrations.

Ministers, legislators, officials and diplomats stationed in Chennai witnessed the celebrations.

Earlier, the Governor placed a wreath at the War Memorial.

He also hosted tea for dignitaries in the evening at Raj Bhavan.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

School to commemorate golden jubilee
World Reiki Day to be celebrated today
Results on website
Reservation for Arundhatiars hailed
Support sought for fishermen stir
“Krishnamurti’s teachings still valid”
Vasectomy camp planned
State ahead in human development index
“DMK will continue its language struggle”
A bookful of children’s dreams
Southern Railway takes school students down memory track
College cultural fete
Glamour and glitz are at high pitch
Awards for best Corporation schools
“India, U.S. share values of freedom, democracy”
BSNL RSU at New Perungalathur
Dies in accident
Maid’s death: special teams for Tiruvarur
Oratorical contests
Travel, tourism fair
Free eye camp
Chief Minister presents gallantry awards
Baalu’s action against rules, says Jayalalithaa
Petitions on appointment of engineers dismissed
President’s medal for five officers
Tableau on rural development adjudged the best
In Chennai Today

Copyright © 2008, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu