CM Stalin Honours Alt News' Mohammed Zubair, Banker Who Donated Land For Govt School On R-Day

MK Stalin during the 75th Republic Day honoured Aayi Ammal with the Chief Minister’s Special Award on Friday.

On Republic Day, Chief Minister Stalin honored Aayi Ammal (alias Pooranam), a 52-year-old banker from Madurai, for her generous land donation to the government school ( Image Source :X/@CMOTamilNadu )

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Friday presented the state government's award for the promotion of communal harmony to fact-checker Mohammed Zubair and a special CM's award to a banker for donating land for a government school in Tamil Nadu on Republic Day.

On Republic Day, Chief Minister Stalin honored Aayi Ammal (alias Pooranam), a 52-year-old banker from Madurai, for her generous land donation to the government school where she studied. She donated an acre of land to Panchayat Union Middle School in Kodikkulam of Madurai to revamp the school into a high school. The land is valued over Rs 4 crore.

The 52-year-old Canara Bank employee made this announcement in remembrance of her late daughter, U. Janani, who passed away a few years ago. She has only urged the government to name the upgraded school after her daughter. The information surfaced after she officially registered the land under the school's name and provided the necessary documents to the authorities of Education.

While speaking to IANS, Aayi said, "I believe that education is the only tool to change the lives of people and transform society. A high school here will uplift the lives of rural people here as their children will get better education."

Stalin Honours AltNews Co-Founder Zubair

At the 75th Republic Day celebrations, Stalin honored Zubair, the co-founder of AltNews. In March 2023, social media claimed "migrant workers were being attacked in Tamil Nadu." After verifying video clips, Zubair clarified that these claims were false, and no such attacks occurred in Tamil Nadu.

"Thus, he stopped the spread of rumours against Tamil Nadu and acted to prevent violence caused by caste, religion, race and language in the state," the government said in the citation, as per a report on PTI.

Additionally, the government noted his contributions in "rendering various services to promote communal harmony."