A host of institutions paid tributes to the memory of the Father of the Nation with cleanliness campaigns and programmes focusing on the life and ideals of Mahatma Gandhi on the occasion of his 150th birth anniversary.
Lt. Governor Kiran Bedi and Speaker V. Vaithilingam led the celebrations of the Government at Mahatma Gandhi Square, Beach Road.
PWD Minister A. Namassivayam, Welfare Minister M. Kandasamy, Agriculture Minister R. Kamalakkannan, Special Representative for Government of Puducherry at New Delhi A. Johnkumar, Chief Secretary Ashwani Kumar, Development Commissioner A. Anbarasu, Secretaries, DGP S. Sundari Nanda and other dignitaries paid floral tributes to the statue of the leader. Teachers of Bharathiar Palkalaikoodam rendered patriotic songs.
The Opposition AINRC celebrated the occasion at the party office in Reddiyarpalayam here on Tuesday. Leader of Opposition and party-founder N. Rangasamy, former Ministers P. Rajavelu, N.G. Panneerselvam, T. Thiagarajan and MLAs Ashok Anand, T.P.R. Selvam, N.S.J. Jayabal, S.V. Sugumaran and B. Kobika paid floral tributes to a portrait of the Father of the Nation.
Floral tributes, screening of films on Mahatma Gandhi and a tree planting drive marked the celebrations by Pondicherry University.
Prof. Gurmeet Singh, Vice Chancellor, Pondicherry University, garlanded the statue of Mahatma Gandhi in the administrative building and paid floral tributes.
The University also organised a special programme at the J.N. Auditorium for disseminating information about Mahatma Gandhi’s principle of ahimsa.
Prof. Moorthy, Head, Centre for Gandhian Studies, Prof. Prabhakara Raya, Department of Management Studies, and others participated.
The Vice-Chancellor underlined the increasing relevance of Mahatma Gandhi as a symbol of peace and truth.
Three documentary films on “Gandhi’s principles and ethical values” produced by the University Students was also screened. A tree plantation programme was led by the horticulture wing.
Sasi Kantha Dash, Registrar, Chitra, Controller of Examinations(i/c), Muralidassan, Deputy Registrar (Administration) and K. Mahesh, Assistant Registrar, Manivannan, horticulturist, Janikaraman, Sathesh Kumar, NSS officers and students of University and from the affiliated colleges, staff and students participated.
V. Thangapandian Director (Power) of NLC India Limited, paid floral tributes to the Mahatma at Township Administrative Office amid mass chanting of ‘Raghupathi Raghava Rajaram’.
Cleanliness drive
A cleanliness drive was undertaken at Main Bazaar with participation of employees, members of WIPS, members of Ladies Club, cultural associations, students and senior officials.
A function was also hosted at the Learning & Development Centre, where representative of various cultural associations performed cultural activities around the life and ideals of Mahatma Gandhi.
The programme was themed ‘Teaching and preaching of Gandhi’. Representatives of Ramakrishna Seva Sangham, Indian Christian Cultural Association, Neyveli Muslim Jamath and NLCIL Schools took part in the event.
Special school kits were presented to deprived students by Kanchan Rakeshkumar, President and patrons of Neyveli Ladies Club.
A samabandhi bhojan was arranged at Villudaiyanapattu Murugan Temple, Neyveli. R. Vikraman, Director HR of NLCIL, along with Executive Directors and senior officials participated.
A mass tree plantation was undertaken at Iruppu. NLCIL also concluded its fortnight-long cleanliness campaign as part of ‘Swachhta Hi Seva.’
Indian Overseas Bank launched Swachh Bharat Abhiyan campaign involving bank staff who took an oath to achieve Clean India goal by the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi in 2019.
The drive, which coincided with the celebrations of International Elder’s Day, featured cleaning the premises of Fathima Higher Secondary School, Lawspet.
Senior citizens of Pondicherry were honoured with dhotis and towels.
Ashok Anand, MLA, J Balakrishnan, Chief Regional Manager IOB-Pondichery Region and S.V. Iyer, President of Senior Citizens Bureau, participated in the event supported by Allam Alloys Pvt Ltd.
IOB also launched a scheme IOB-EIGHTY PLUS exclusively for senior citizens aged 80 years and above offering 0.25% over and above the applicable rate for senior citizens (total 0.75%) more than general deposit rates.
Medical camp
An osteoporosis camp was also conducted for senior citizens in the school campus in association with Be Well Hospitals .
A week-long celebration of Doctors Week was also commenced to recognise the contributions of the doctors community.
The bank is also organising a blood donation camp on Wednesday in association with JIPMER at the Banks’ Orleanpet branch premises for medical professionals and the general public.
The bank in association with Aravind Eye hospital will also organise a free eye check up for the staff and their families of a biscuit company in Thirubhuvanai industrial estate on Thursday and a free general health check up on Friday.
The week-long celebrations will conclude with a 2.5 km walkathon on Saturday.