Sri Vidya Mandir Secondary School, Kondalampatti branch and the Vidya Peetam I School, Mannarpalayam jointly won the overall championship at the National Youth Day competitions 2016 organised by the Ramakrishna Mission Ashram in the city.
Both the schools aggregated 82 points each to win the overall championship jointly.
More than 2,000 boys and girls from KG to Plus-Two from about 25 schools in and around Salem participated in the Tamil and English recitation, oratorical (both Tamil and English), devotional music, essay writing (both Tamil and English), painting and Gita chanting competitions held on the ashram premises from August 17– 24.
At the valediction held on Sunday, P. V. Karunakaran, former Head of the Department of English, Government Arts College, and ashram management committee member and Savithri Karunakaran, former Professor of Zoology, Sri Sarada College, were the chief guests and they gave away prizes to the winners.
P. Balu, former officer of Andhra Bank, who delivered a special address, commended the ashram for organising events aimed at bringing the hidden talents of the young students.
Swami Yatatmananda, Secretary, Ramakrishna Mission Ashram, offered felicitations and Maragathavalli, former Principal, Sri Vidya Mandir Senior Secondary School, Ammapet, presented the report of the National Youth Day celebrations. K. Vasantha, former Chief Educational Officer, administered oath to the student participants. Colourful cultural programmes depicting the life and achievements of Swami Vivekananda, whose birth anniversary is being celebrated as National Youth Day, by young students formed part of the valediction.
A total of 301 prizes – first, second, third and consolation prizes, were given away.
