Mysore/Mysuru: Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) B.S. Manjunathaswamy said that the Republic Day (R-Day) celebrations will be held in a simple manner in city on Jan. 26 due to COVID-19 pandemic.

Addressing a preliminary meeting at the Deputy Commissioner’s Office here on Wednesday, which was also attended by a few Kannada organisations, Manjunathaswamy said that the R-Day will be celebrated at Bannimantap Grounds on Jan. 26 in accordance with COVID-19 protocol issued by the Government. 

Noting that as is the practice, District In-charge Minister S.T. Somashekar will unfurl the National Flag at 9 am and address the gathering, the ADC said that there will be no parade by students as in the past, due to COVID-19 contagion. However, there will be the usual Police parade at the venue, he said and added that all COVID-19 safety measures will be taken.

Continuing, he said that following a Government direction, the Best Service Award to Government employees which was being given on Republic Day, will now be presented on April 21, which has been declared as Government Employees Day.

Pointing out that entries have been invited for District-level Best Service Award in the Government’s online portal, he said that personnel recommended by Heads of the concerned Departments can apply for the award.

MUDA Commissioner Dr. D.B. Natesh, ZP Deputy Secretary Premkumar, DDPI Dr. Panduranga, Kannada and Culture Department Assistant Director H. Chennappa, District Kannada Sahitya Parishat President Dr. Y.D. Rajanna, Kannada activist Thayur Vittalamurthy and others were present.