Panchayat Union Middle School, Chinnapaalam – 05.02.2026

       The Chinnapaalam Panchayat Union Middle School had the highest participation among all schools with 29 students participating in the event. Being a fishing village, all the students belonged to the fishing community. 

      During the post-competition interaction, when students were asked about their future aspirations, a majority expressed a desire to become teachers — a refreshing shift from the commonly expected responses of doctors or engineers in the region.

      A notable incident that occurred in this event was two boys who brought cheat sheets for drawing reference that were caught and gently corrected.

     The first prize winner’s excitement and surprise at her victory stood out at the event.

     The students were struck in awe when the full set of prizes for the winners inside the lunch bags were revealed by the teacher as they had initially assumed only the lunch bags were the rewards. The revelation motivated the students to participate more enthusiastically.

       The school administration also appreciated the premium designs of the certificates.

Panchayat Union Middle School, Erakadu – 03.02.2026

         The first Painting competition was conducted in the fishing village of Erakadu in Rameswaram. Being located in a coastal fishing area, students were already familiar with basic marine life concepts and understood the importance of sea turtles in the ocean ecosystem.

        Due to low student strength, 6 students participated in the competition in this school. The top three performers were awarded prizes and certificates according to their ranking, while all participants received participation certificates.

        Following the competition, community reporters from Kadal Osai FM 90.4 CR addressed the students on the ecological role of sea turtles and the need for their conservation.

       A notable moment occurred when one student, who had not clearly understood the theme, presented written information about sea turtles instead of a drawing. She became emotional upon not winning a prize. After discussion with the teachers, complimentary pens were distributed to all participants to appreciate their efforts. It was subsequently decided that, in future events, every participant would receive a pen along with their certificate to ensure encouragement and inclusivity.

NammaAattam Youth Festival (31 January, 2026 – 01 February, 2026)

The NammaAattam youth festival was conducted by the District Sports and Youth Welfare Department on January 31 and February 1, 2026. The two-day event was covered by KadalOsai FM 90.4 Community Radio as the official radio partner.

The festival featured a wide range of sports and recreational competitions, including kabaddi, street cricket, throwball, carrom board, tug of war, athletics events such as running and shot put, as well as creative competitions like drawing and rangoli.

The event was open to all and ensured inclusive participation, with youth from diverse backgrounds taking part — including men, women, transgender persons, and persons with disabilities.

The organizers ensured smooth arrangements and participant welfare throughout the event. Travel expenses were reimbursed, and free breakfast and lunch were provided for all participants. Hospitality and coordination were widely appreciated by attendees.

      The event saw a large number of participation from people from all blocks in the district and notably, there was a huge turnout of women in the event.