Independence Day: Covid-19 frontline workers honoured in Coimbatore

COIMBATORE: The Coimbatore district administration on Saturday celebrated the 74th Independence Day on a low-key note, based on the advice of the state government due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
District collector K Rajamani hoisted the national flag and accepted the guard of honour at VOC ground in the city on Saturday morning.
The collector honoured as many as 90 Covid-19 frontline workers – seven from CMCH, six from ESI hospital, 11 from public health and preventive medicine, five from medical and rural health service, eight from city corporation, 15 from police department, six from municipality, six from town panchayat, five from rural development and panchayat raj, one from transport department and 20 from revenue and disaster management. He distributed certificates for their remarkable work throughout the pandemic.
District administration officials recorded the details of all those who entered the ground, checked their temperature and looked out for other visible symptoms.
Cultural events were not organised this year and the public and students were not allowed to witness the celebration.
Tahsildars and deputy tahsildars visited the houses of freedom fighters to honour them.
Corporation commissioner J Sravan Kumar hoisted the national flag at the corporation main office in Town Hall in the city. He distributed certificates and Rs 2,000 cash award each to 22 officials, who completed 25 years of service with an excellent record.
In the neighbouring Tirupur district, collector K Vijayakarthikeyan hoisted the national flag and accepted the guard of honour at Chikkanna government Arts College in the city.
The collector honoured 349 Covid-19 frontline workers – 272 government employees, seven volunteers and 70 police personnel – by distributing certificates. He also distributed financial aid to the tune of Rs 3.67 crore to 15 beneficiaries during the event.
Dr Nirmala, dean of ESI hospital hoisted the national flag at Isha yoga center.
"So far, we have treated 3,750 patients at ESI Hospital. The patients being treated now are different from the previous patients as most of them are having issues related to the lungs. The elderly people, diabetics, people with hypertension, kidney issues and cancer should be extra cautious. They should avoid social gatherings and going out,” said Dr Nirmala.
Bharathiar University and several other colleges in the district too hoisted the national flag and celebrated Independence Day.