Rallies, planting of saplings marked the 84th birth anniversary of scientist and former President of India A.P.J. Abdul Kalam across Kanyakumari district on Thursday.
As the State government had announced that the day be observed as ‘Youth Awakening Day,’ a rally of school children was flagged off by Collector Sajjansingh R. Chavan from SLB Government Higher Secondary School.
Students carried placards of Dr. Kalam’s thoughts and his photograph in the rally. The rally went through Parvathavarthini Street, old employment exchange and reached the SLB Government Girls High School. Chief Education Officer V. Jayakumar participated.
Later, Mr. Chavan participated in the ‘Youth Renaissance Day’ celebrations held at the Pon Jesley Engineering College, presided over by its chairman Pon Robert Singh. Mr. Chavan gave away prizes to students who participated in essay writing, oratorical competitions and also participants of the science exhibition.
At a function held in Narayanaguru College of Engineering, Principal C.P. Jesuthanam inaugurated the celebrations and shared inspirational quotes of Dr. Kalam.
Grace College of Education celebrated Kalam’s birth anniversary. Principal K. Selvaraj spoke on the occasion.
Medical camp
A special medical camp was organised at the old age home ‘Rojavanam’ in Vellalar Colony in Nagercoil. Director of the home Arul Kannan presided.
District Social Welfare Officer Uma Maheshwari inaugurated the camp. Inmates of the old age home were screened for cataract and vision tests were done by a team of ophthalmologists from Vasan Eye Care Hospital.
The students of Comorin International School, Aralvaimozhi planted 85 saplings to mark the birth anniversary of Kalam, with the assistance of the Forestry Extension Centre at Aralvaimozhi of the Tamil Nadu Forest Department.
S.S. Davidson, Environmental Educator, Forest Ranger M. Sekar coordinated the planting of saplings on the school premises. The saplings were supplied by the Forest Extension Centre.
