Collector M. Pallavi Baldev hoisted the national flag and distributed welfare assistance to 54 persons to the tune of ₹27.81 lakh here on Thursday.
Celebrating the 73rd Independence Day with patriotic fervour, more than 500 students presented a variety of cultural programmes including a few popular items like ‘Thaayin Manikodi’.
The Collector, who took the salute, also inspected a guard of honour accompanied by SP V. Baskaran.
He gave saplings to 250 participants and certificates of merit and commendation to staff and social activists. Megamalai conservator Boslin Sachin Thukkaram, DRO Kandasami, PO DRDA P Thilagavathi and other officers participated
Later, the officers visited the Veerapandi Gowmariamman Temple and took part in the community feast organised in connection with the Independence Day.
Presiding over a special gram sabha meeting at Kodangipatti panchayat in Bodinayakkanur, Ms. Baldev urged the villagers to be aware of their rights and responsibilities. The functioning of public distribution system, kudimaramathu work, the need to stop open defecation and construction of toilets and use of sanitary complex, the need to conserve water and ban on plastic goods figured in the meeting.
According to a press release, gram sabha meetings were held in all the 130 village panchayats.
Dindigul
Collector M. Vijayalakshmi hoisted the national flag at the Armed Reserve police grounds and took the salute.
Apart from distributing welfare assistance to 62 persons to the tune of ₹92.33 lakh, she gave appreciation certificates to 50 residents from the district for installing rainwater harvesting structure on their premises.
School students presented a variety programme and the colourful drill was the cynosure of all eyes. Balloons and pigeons were also set off on the occasion.
Superintendent of Police R. Sakthivel, DRO P. Velu and other senior officers participated.
The Collector presided over a gram sabha meeting in the district. Need for keeping the environment clean and pollution free was stressed at the meeting.
