Cash prizes for highest public exam achievers

CHENNAI: Chennai Mayor Saidai S Duraisamy on Saturday distributed cash prizes to students of Chennai Schools who achieved high scores in the public examinations held in 2011. He gave cash prizes totalling Rs 28 lakh to 1,898 students. A press release from the Corporation noted that it had raised the cash prizes for the top three scores in each subject from Rs 1,500, Rs 1,000 and Rs 750 to Rs 3,000, Rs 2,500 and Rs 2,000 respectively. Duraisamy also presented prizes to students who scored centums and to those who scored over 80 per cent.Speaking at the event, the Mayor promised that the civic body would take all steps necessary to ensure that the quality of education in its schools improved. He said steps would be taken to improve skills among students of Class VI and upwards, infrastructure would be improved and staffing, hygiene and drinking water requirements would be addressed.