Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on Wednesday distributed cash prizes to 22 students who topped the Class 12 and Class 10 public examinations this year at a function at the Secretariat. She then announced that the government would bear the expenses of higher education for all the 22 students. She gave cash prizes of `50,000 each to Class 12 toppers S Jayasurya and S Abinesh and `30,000 each to S Palaniraj and R Ahalya, who secured the second rank. She also gave cash prizes of `20,000 each to nine students who had secured the third rank across various disciplines. The Chief Minister presented `25,000 each to nine students who topped the Class 10 public examinations.
She wished the students good luck in their future and urged them to develop a sense of social responsibility. Chief Secretary Sheela Balakrishnan, School Education Secretary D Sabitha, School Education, Sports and Youth Welfare Minister R Vaigaichelvan and other government officials were among those present.