Chennai: Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami distributed medals – 854 of them to personnel of uniformed services in the state on the occasion of Independence Day.
The awards included 265 Presidents medals awarded by the Central Government and the remaining 589 being the Chief Minister’s medal.
Kalaivanar Arangam, where the event was held was drowned in a sea of Khaki as senior officers and personnel of police and fire departments from across the state participated in the event.
Director General of Police T.K. Rajendran, who gave the inaugural address, said the state has been at the forefront in the welfare of uniformed services. “Own-your-house scheme is a highlight of the state’s welfare measure to uniformed services. Similar schemes are being replicated in other states,” he said.
Later, the Chief Minister distributed medals to select personnel from the varied wings of the police department and to firemen. The rest of the medals were handed over by the heads of the departments.
Heaping praise on the uniformed services, CM said they are service minded and toil physically and mentally to carry out their duties. “The state has a reputation for being hailed as amaidhi poonga (peace haven) and the role of our police has been significant in that,” the CM said.
He also had words of appreciation for the fire men, who rescued workers from the Chennai Silks building during the fire and for containing the fire from not spreading.
While most personnel who received awards were received with a round of applause, thunderous applause were reserved for the kin of slain policemen- Sub inspector T. Alwin Sudhan and head constable G. Kanagaraj, who attained martyrdom. Sudhan was murdered in Sivagangai district in 2012, while on ‘bandobust duty’ for Thevar Jayanthi celebrations while G. Kanagaraj was run over by a tractor while attempting to stop sand mining in Kosathalai riverbed in 2014.
Customs chief hails GST
Ajith Kumar, chief commissioner of customs on Tuesday, while delivering his address as chief guest at the 71st Independence Day celebration at Customs House said that the economic unification of the country has been made possible through the historical implementation of GST and added it would go along way in simplifying taxes and facilitating trade.
GST network, the robust backend IT infrastructure for the GST, would provide a single and simple interface for tax payers to fulfil tax obligations, he added
