Honouring of tyagis, gram sabhas mark day in districts

A fervent celebration was witnessed at the Armed Reserve Police ground in Madurai, where Collector K Veera Raghav Rao accepted the guard of honour from the policemen before hoisting the tricolour. Earlier the policemen and NCC members conducted parade in the ground. 

Madurai SP Vijayendra Bidari also accompanied him in the jeep and during the flag hoisting ceremony. Collector also flew white pigeons as symbol of peace and prosperity. The Collector also distributed gallantry medals to 32 policemen and 74 awards to government officials, NGOs and women self-help groups who had excelled in various departments. Then he went to the gallery where the freedom fighters and their descendants were present and awarded gifts to them. 

The award function was followed by cultural events in which students from various schools danced for various patriotic songs and performed gymnastics. 

In the noon, Collector participated in the sama pandhi, common dining programme, arranged at Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple and joined a mass feeding programme. Later, he proceeded to the Grama Sabha meeting held at Thiruvedagam village in Vadipatti taluk. 

Similar programmes were conducted at Madurai corporation and Railways. In Madurai corporation, Commissioner Sandeep Nanduri hoisted the flag. At Railways ground, Southern Railways DRM Sunil Kumar Garg hoisted the flag. A dog show was also conducted at the event and dogs belonging to Railways performed stunts in the events. 

Andammal, wife of freedom fighter Nammazhwar who had fought at Quit India Movement, claimed that the nationalist feeling and the social commitment of youth had declined over the years. 

Apart from the criminalisation of politics, the silence of good people is one of the reasons for country going on a wrong direction, claimed Andammal. She also requested the youth to participate in the social movements and to contribute them for the nation.