Chennai: The Tamilnadu government has announced cancelling Grama Sabha meetings on 15 August (Independence Day), in view of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic situation.
A circualr in this regard has been sent to District Collectors, sources said. Grama Sabha meetings would take place on Republic Day, Independence Day and Gandhi Jayanthi, during which people would air their grievances and place demands to officials.
On Thursday, the government appealed to the general public, school and college students and the elderly people not to attend the 74th Independence Day celebrations at Fort St George in the city and in all district headquarters to prevent spread of coronavirus.
An official release said as part of the celebrations Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami will hoist the National Flag at the ramparts of Fort St. George in
the city at 8.45 am on 15 August.
It said taking into account their age factor, instructions had been given to the District Collectors to visit the residences of ten freedom fighters in their respective districts and honour them with shawls by following public health advisories.
Due to the unusual circumstances, Social Welfare Minister Dr V Saroja will visit homes of differently abled people and distribute sweets on behalf of the State government this year instead of during the flag hoisting event at the Fort St George.
The Chief Minister would also honour the frontline workers involved in the fight against Covid-19 by distributing medals and certificates to them, the release said.
Live broadcast of the celebrations have been planned through television channels and on radio and urged the people, students and elders to watch and hear them from their homes.