Independence Day was celebrated with usual gaiety across the district on Thursday.
At a colourful function held at the Anna stadium in the city, the District Collector, Jayashree Muralidharan, hoisted the national flag. The Collector, accompanied by S. Rajeswari, Superintendent of Police, inspected a guard of honour and accepted salute at a march past presented by police, fire service personnel, home guards, and NCC cadets.
The Collector honoured freedom fighters and their wards and gave away commendation certificates to 23 police personnel, 56 government servants, 50 fire and rescue services personnel, five agriculture department staff, and 12 revenue department staff in recognition of their outstanding service.
Ms.Muralidharan distributed welfare assistance to the tune of Rs.76.37 lakh to 181 beneficiaries belonging to weaker sections under different government programmes. Students of schools and colleges presented cultural programme and the Collector gave away prizes to best performers.
M.Ramasubramani, Inspector General of Police, Central Zone, Shailesh Kumar Yadav, Commissioner of Police, A. Amalraj, DIG of Police, Tiruchi range, Abhinav Kumar, Deputy Commissioner of Police, and T.Rajathi, District Panchayat Chairperson, were present. .
Earlier, the Collector and A. Jaya, Mayor, laid wreaths at the War Memorial near Gandhi Market.
Political parties and people from all walks of life celebrated the day with pomp and splendour.
Administering national integration pledge marked the celebrations at the Rehabilitation Centre for the Blind Women at Mannarpuram in the city. M.Ramakrishnan, a former official, hoisted the national flag and Radha Ramakrishnan delivered the Independence Day address. Visually impaired students presented cultural programmes.
G.Jerome Arokyaraj, president of the urban district unit of the Congress, hoisted the National Flag at the Aruanchalam Mandram, party headquarters. He and Subha Somu, south district secretary of the party, garlanded the statue of Mahatma Gandhi at the Main Guard Gate.
The members of the Kisan Khet Mazdoor Congress, led by A. Nagarajan, paid floral tributes at the Gandhi memorial at the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Government Hospital.
