Make use of opportunities, CM tells students

Chennai Sept. 5. The Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa, today appealed to students to make full use of the expanding educational opportunities. Giving away cash prizes to the children of police personnel who secured the three top places in the public examinations, Ms. Jayalalithaa said educational institutions and universities, at present, offered a variety of courses. Students should take advantage of them.

Devoting a good portion of her speech, advising students to do well in their studies, Ms. Jayalalithaa said they should train themselves in at least one game or sport and evince interest in literature and music.

As "knowledge is power" and education stood them in good stead, they should be able to speak and write effectively.

Like the mythological swan, which could separate milk from water, students should try to imbibe only the good things in life and reject the bad ones.

Out of 305 winners, the Chief Minister distributed prizes to 81 students.

The Home Secretary, Syed Munir Hoda, the Director-General of Police, B.P.Nailwal, and the Chennai Police Commissioner, K.Vijay Kumar, gave away prizes to other students. The officers gave away prizes to the winners who were in the audience.

While the prize amounts for Standard XII were Rs.7,000 for the first place, Rs.5000 for the second and Rs.3000 for the third, they were Rs.6,000, Rs.4,000 and Rs.2,000 respectively for Standard X.

Twelve students were given assistance under the `Special Scholarship Fund'.

Mr. Hoda said the State was in the forefront in taking care of policemen's welfare.

Out of over 8,000 petitions received by the Chief Minister from police personnel on the `Grievances Day', more than 3,000 petitions were redressed.

Mr. Nailwal said the practice of awarding prizes to meritorious children of police personnel started in 1993.