Every year, the
31st October, birth day of the Iron Man of India, Sardar Vallabhai Patel, is
being observed as the Rashtriya Ekta Diwas-National Integration Day-in tribute
to the first Home Minister of Independent
India, who helped India to become a single country, uniting various
princely states with Indian Union.
On this day,
various programs are being conducted by Indian Railways all over the Nation,
and Salem Division of Southern Railway has organised a Mini Marathon from Salem
Junction today (31.10.2017) with participation by more than 100 volunteers,
from St. Joseph Girls School, Salem, Sona College, Salem, RPF Personnel and other
railway employees. Sri Hari Shankar Verma, DRM, Salem, paid floral tributes to
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, in the presence of Smt Anita Verma, President,
Southern Railway Women’s Welfare Organisation, Salem, Sri A. Vijuvin, Sr. DCM,
Salem, Sri S. Thirumurugan, DPO, Salem, and other Officers and staff of Salem
Division. He also administered the Ekta Pledge for the participants of the
Marathon. While addressing the gathering, Sri Verma said that but for the
efforts of Sirdar Vallabhbhai Patel, the Nation would not have become one and
every Indian should remember his contribution to the Nation gratefully.
Late, the
marathon was flagged off by Sri Hari Shankar Verma, DRM, Salem, in the presence
of officers and staff of Salem Division. It was completed at the Salem Division
Office premises. Such functions were
held in Erode, Tiruppur, Coimbatore, Karur, Mettupalayam, and Salem Town
Railway Stations under the guidance of various Salem Division officials.
