TN: Floats, march pasts mark R Day celebrations

Chennai, Jan 26: A carnival of school and college students, ceremonial march pasts, cultural programmes and a pageantry of floats marked the Republic Day celebrations organised by the Tamil Nadu Government.

Though almost all floats had the theme of achievements of the DMK Government, the fly past by Indian airforce caught the attention of the huge crowd gathered along the Kamarajar Salai for a glimpse of the proceeding.

The celebrations began with Governor Surjit Singh Barnala unfurling the National Flag. Chief Minister M Karunanidhi distributed the Anna Medals for gallantry, the Kottai Ameer award for Communal Harmony and the Mahatma Gandhi Police Medals.

Mr D Kannan of Manseri village at Sivanganga Taluk, who saved 250 lives in the cyclone and heavy rain in 2005 and R Narendran, who lost his life while saving two persons in a drainage block, were honoured with gallantry awards.

The awards carry a medal and a cash prize of Rs 10,000.

The Communal Harmony Award, carrying a medal and Rs 25, 000 cash prize, was presented to Vincent Abubakkar posthumously.

The Mahatma Gandhi Award for outstanding work on curtailing illicit liquor was awarded to R Muregesan, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Prohibition Enforcement Wing, Tiruchirappali city.

The award carries a medal and a cash award of Rs 10, 000.

As many as 19 departments-- Information and Tourism, Industries, Police, Forests and Environment, Horticulture, Industries, Adi Dravidar and Tribal Welfare, Cooperation, Rural Development, Tourism, Health and Family Welfare, Agriculture, Social Welfare and Fire and Rescue Service displayed their work in the floats.

UNI