I-Day celebrations: COVID protocols respected in Vellore, Ranipet, Tirupattur and Tiruvannamalai districts

In Vellore district, Collector A Shamuga Sundaram reviewed a guard of honour and hoisted the national flag in the Nethaji Stadium and later handed out government largesse amounting Rs 14.80 lakh to four beneficiaries. He also honoured 29 personnel from various government departments and police for their service duing the current pandemic.

Shanmuga Sundaram earlier garlanded the Mahatma Gandhi statue at the entrance to the historic fort and also hoisted the tricolor at the government blind home, the officers club and on the ramparts of the Vellore fort. Those present included Vellore range DIG N Kamini, Vellore central prison DIG K Jayabharathy, SP Pravesh Kumar and DRO J Parthiban.

In Tiruvannamalai district, Collector KS Kandasamy did the honours — reviewing a guard of honour and hoisting the tricolor — and later distributed government benefits estimated at Rs.1.95 crore to 574 beneficiaries. A total of 63 persons including government officials and two recovered COVID-19 patients were honoured on the occasion. DRO P Rethinasamy and Kilpennathur MLA K Pichandi were present on the occasion.

In Tirupattur district, the highlight was officials visiting the homes of 25 freedom fighters who because of their advanced age were asked to avoid coming to the official function. Revenue officials handed over momentoes and draped shawls on them in their houses. Meanwhile, Collector MP Sivan Arul after the mandatory guard of honour and unfurling the national flag handed out government benefits totally costing Rs.1.25 crore to 516 beneficiaries. 99 COVID warriors from various departments were noured on the occasion with shawls and certificates while 32 SSLC and plus two toppers from government schools also received similar honours. SP P Vijayakumar was present. In Ranipet district collector S Divyadarshini unfurled the tricolor and took the salute at the police march past and later distributed government benefits to beneficiaries.