Cultural events, disbursement of welfare assistance, distribution of medals, and gram sabha meetings marked the 66th Republic Day celebrations in Ramanathapuram and Sivaganga districts on Monday.
The celebrations began with Collector K. Nanthakumar unfurling the national flag at the Seethakathi Sethupathy stadium here and Collector T. Munusamy hoisting the tricolour at the Collectorate in Sivaganga.
Hundreds of school students and the general public witnessed as the Collectors, accompanied by Superintendent of Police N.M.Mylvahanan (Ramanathapuram) and Ashwin M.Kotnis (Sivaganga) inspected and accepted the guard of honour, presented by Armed Reserve Police.
Mr. Nanthakumar distributed welfare assistance to the tune of Rs 3.26 crore to 151 beneficiaries, including ex-servicemen and differently abled people, presented Chief Minister’s medals to 28 police personnel and merit certificates to 11 police personnel.
The Collector also distributed merit certificates to as many as 162 people from various departments, recognising their meritorious services. A maximum of 27 people from the free training centre received the certificates, followed by 26 from Public health department, 24 from Education Department and 23 from Rural Development department.
In Sivaganga, Mr. Munusamy distributed welfare assistance to the tune of Rs.1.58 crore to 644 beneficiaries. He presented the Chief Minister’s medal to 26 police personnel and merit certificates to 30 police personnel and revenue officials.
District Revenue Officers S.Viswanathan (Ramanathapuram) Ilango (Sivaganga), Ramanathapuram MP A Anwar Raja, Sivaganga MP P R Senthilnathan, former Minister E M Sudarsana Nachiappan, District Panchayat Chairmen M Sundarapandian, former Chairman A Ravichandra Ramavanni (Ramanathapuram) and Shivdevkumar (Sivaganga) were among others present.
Later, Mr Nanthakumar chaired a grama sabha meeting at Karuthanendal in Bogalur Panchayat Union and Mr. Munusamy at Ladanendal in Thirupuvan block and listened to the grievances of the villagers.
At the District court, Principal District Judge T.Ponprakash unfurled the tricolour and addressed the advocates. Local MLA M.H. Jawahirullah hoisted the national flag at his office. At Alagappa University in Karaikudi, Prof. S. Kaliyamoorthy, Convener, Vice-Chancellor Officiating Committee, hoisted the national flag and accepted the guard of honour given by the students.
