Nallakannu donates Rs 10.05L reward to CM fund

CHENNAI: After collecting the State government’s ‘Thagaisal Tamizhar’ award and Rs 10 lakh cash reward from Chief Minister MK Stalin during Independence Day celebrations on Monday, veteran CPI leader R Nallakannu added Rs 5,000 of his own money and donated Rs 10.05 lakh to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister’s Public Relief Fund (TNCMPRF).

This is not the first time that Nallakannu has donated his money that he was given for public cause. When he received Rs 1 crore from the party on the occasion of turning 80, the leader promptly returned it to the party. In 2008, when he was awarded the Ambedkar award by the State government, he donated the cash component to the party and farmers union.

‘Thagaisal Tamizhar’ award, instituted by the State government in 2021, was presented to a Left leader for the second consecutive year. Last year, the award was given to N Sankaraiah.

The Chief Minister presented the Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Award to S Ignacimuthu, Director of Xavier Research Foundation, St Xavier’s College, Palayamkottai. Ignacimuthu is one of the widely respected biologists in the world who has an insect species named after him – Jacthrips ignacimuthu.

Kalpana Chawla Award for courage and daring enterprise was presented to B Ezhilarasi from Nagapattinam, who rescued two children from drowning in a pond despite not knowing swimming. S Lakshmipriya, Deputy Collector and Supervisory Public Grievance Redressal Officer in Mudhalvarin Mugavari Department, was awarded the Ungal Thoguthiyil Mudhalvar award.

For awards for services rendered towards the welfare of women, “Vanavil Trust” established by R Revathi in Nagapattinam was chosen as the best institution. The trust has been working for the betterment of nomadic communities for more than 17 years and has prevented child marriages and child labour. More than 500 nomadic women have been benefited in Tiruvarur, Mayiladuthurai and Nagapattinam districts due to the trust.

Dr P Vijaya Kumar from Ranipet received Chief Minister’s State Youth Award for coordinating with the government to help 35 students from the State who were stranded in Ukraine when the war broke out. He arranged transportation for students, enabling them to reach the Indian camps safely.