Pomp and gaiety marked the Republic Day celebrations in Krishnagiri and Dharmapuri districts on Wednesday.
In Krishnagiri, Collector V. Arun Roy unfurled the tricolour, took the salute at an impressive parade and reviewed a guard of honour at the District Sports Stadium.
Superintendent of Police, A.G. Babu, accompanied the Collector during the ceremony.
Mr. Roy also gave away welfare assistance to the tune of Rs. 42.5-lakh to about 124 beneficiaries to mark the Republic Day celebrations.
The Collector honoured 23 police personnel (all Head Constables) with the Chief Minister’s Medals for meritorious services Impressive dance programmes of government and private school students were performed to the tunes of patriotic songs.
Children from ten schools including two government boys and girls higher secondary schools in Krishnagiri showcased their talents.
Schools in other parts of the district did not take part in the celebrations.
Mr. Roy honoured 35 freedom fighters with shawls and gave away blankets on the occasion.
C. Prakasam, District Revenue Officer, G. Luxmi Priya, Additional Collector (Development), M. Baskaran, Chief Education Officer, SSA, G. Murthy, Chief Education Officer, T. Murugesan, District Supply Officer, P. Suresh, Regional Transport Officer, M. Vijaykumar, Lead District Officer, Reserve Bank of India among others participated.
In Dharmapuri, Collector R. Ananthakumar, unfurled the tricolour, took the salute at an impressive parade and reviewed a guard of honour at the District Sports Stadium.
Superintendent of Police, R. Sudhakar, accompanied the Collector during the ceremony.
Immediately after unfurling the tricolour, the Collector and Superintendent of Police freed white parrots into the air.
The Collector honoured 18 police personnel with the Chief Minister’s Medals for meritorious services.
He also gave away welfare assistance to 323 beneficiaries to the tune of Rs. 90.12 lakh.
He also honoured 200 freedom fighters with the shawl and gave away wall clocks.
Later, the cultural programmes of the school children on national integration and patriotism attracted the crowd.
R. Maheshwari, District Revenue Officer, Ms. Mariam Sathiq, Sub Collector, S. Sadagopan, Deputy General Manager, Indian Bank, Dharmapuri Circle, A. Kalaiselvi, Chief Education Officer among others participated.
Later Mr. Ananthakumar took lunch with the villagers at the “Samabandhi Bhojanam” organised at the Venkatramanasamy Temple at Maniambadi village in Pappireddypatti taluk.
