Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa today presented the State government awards to eight recipients at the Secretariat here.
While declaring the names of awardees for this year's government awards instituted in the names of Tamil leaders and Tamil saint-poet Thiruvalluvar, it was announced that the awards would be distributed on January 15.
The awardees, however, requested that they would like to get the honour from the Chief Minister directly. In deference to their request, it was announced that Jayalalithaa would present the awards on Republic Day.
However, Taiwanese poet Yusi was conferred the Thiruvalluvar Award by Minister for Finance and Public Works Department, O Panneerselvam coinciding with Thiruvalluvar Day celebrations on January 15.
Former DMDK leader Panrutty S Ramachandran, who quit the Vijayakanth-led party last month was conferred the "Perarignar Anna Award."
Seven others were given awards named after Thanthai Periyar (EVK Sulochana Sampath), Annal Ambedkar (M Prakash), Perunthalaivar Kamarajar (Ki Ayyaru Vandayar), Mahakavi Bharathiar (Ku Gnanasambanthan), Pavendar Bharathidasan (Radha Chellappan), Thiru Vi Ka (J Asokamithran), Muttamizh Kavalar Ki Aa Pe Viswanatham (V Jeyadevan).
The awards carry Rs one lakh cash, one sovereign of gold medal and a citation.
