At the 72nd Independence Day celebrations organised by the Coimbatore Corporation, Commissioner K. Vijayakarthikeyan hoisted the national flag in the presence of Deputy Commissioner P. Gandhimathi, City Engineer A. Lakshmanan, City Health Officer P. Santhosh Kumar and other senior officials.
Mr. Vijayakarthikeyan gave away certificates of appreciation and ₹ 2,000 each to 42 workers/employees who had completed 25 years of meritorious service. He also gave away 25 bicycles to five conservancy supervisors, for their work in solid waste management, and 20 contract conservancy workers for their work in dengue prevention and awareness creation, said a Corporation release.
Non-government organisation American India Foundation sponsored the bicycles.
The Commissioner also gave certificates of appreciation to engineers Lakshmanan, T. Gnanavel, K. Saravanakumar and a few contractors as well.
The students of the Corporation R.S. Puram West Girls’ Higher Secondary School and S.R.P. Ammani Ammal Girls’ Hr. Sec. School danced to patriotic songs.
At the Bharathiar University, Vice-Chancellor Committee member P. Thirunavukkarasu hoisted the flag. He urged the students to learn about the sacrifices made by freedom fighters. Along with another Committee member N. Jeyakumar and Registrar in-charge B. Vanitha he planted saplings, a release from the university said.
The day was celebrated at the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Avinashilingam University, government and private colleges and schools.