NE NEWS SERVICE
CHENNAI, MARCH 9
Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami gave away Avvaiyar Award for the year 2020 to R. Kannagi, in charge of Funeral Pyre in a grave yard in Tiruvannamalai town here on Monday.
The award was given away to the woman for her courage to prove that even women can work in grave yards. Besides working in grave yard, Kannagi has so far cremated thousands of unclaimed dead bodies as per the rules laid down by the government.
She was bestowed with the district-level award on Women’s Day in 2016, President’s Award in the year 2018, and she also given award for her exemplary service for protection of environment same year.
Ms. Kannagi was also governing an NGO Vizhuthugal and was instrumental in establishing 528 Women Self Help Groups in Ward No.16 in Tirunvannamalai Municipality for the last 12 years, a release from the government said. She also helped poorer families to convert their thatched roofs into tiles since 1992.
The award carries a cheque for Rs One lakh, a gold medal weighing 8 gm, and a certificate.
The “Avvaiyar Award” was constituted by late Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa in the year 2012 to honour women actively working in the areas of social reform, women’s development, culture, media, inter-faith harmony, and administration, among others.
Receiving the award Ms. Kannagi thanked the Chief Minister for the recognition of her social work.
The Social Welfare Minister V. Saroja, Hindu Religion & Charitable Endowment Minister Sevur S. Ramachandran and officials were present on this occasion, the release added.
