CM Gives Rs 48 Lakh Cash Award to Kirti Chakra Awardee Soldier Meenakshi Sundaram

Press Release Hon'ble Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu Thiru. C. Joseph Vijay honours Kirti Chakra awardee, Tamil Nadu-born Army soldier Lance Naik Thiru. A. Meenakshi Sundaram, with a cheque for Rs.48 lakh from the Government of Tamil Nadu in recognition of his exceptional valour The Hon'ble Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Thiru. C. Joseph Vijay, today (15.6.2026) at the Secretariat presented a cheque for Rs.48 lakh on behalf of the Government of Tamil Nadu to Lance Naik Thiru. A. Meenakshi Sundaram, a Tamil Nadu-born Army soldier who was awarded the Kirti Chakra by the Government of India, in recognition of his exceptional act of valour in anti-terrorist operations. Lance Naik Thiru. A. Meenakshi Sundaram, hailing from Theni district in Tamil Nadu and serving in the Artillery Regiment of the Indian Army, sustained severe injuries to his face and shoulder from terrorists' gunfire during an anti-terrorist operation in the Kulgam area of Jammu and Kashmir on December 19, 2024. Despite his injuries, he continued to fight without abandoning his duty and neutralised the terrorists. In recognition of his exceptional act of valour, the Hon'ble President of India conferred upon him the Kirti Chakra, India's second-highest peacetime gallantry award, at a ceremony held in New Delhi on 8.6.2026. The patriotism, courage and sense of duty shown by Indian Army soldier Lance Naik Thiru. A. Meenakshi Sundaram, who acted with dedication, disregarding his own life, for the security of the nation, brings pride to Tamil soil and serves to inculcate a spirit of valour and self-sacrifice among the younger generation. When Tamil Nadu-born defence forces personnel receive awards for various acts of valour, the Government of Tamil Nadu, in recognition of their achievement, has been honouring them with cash prizes commensurate with the awards they receive. Accordingly, the Hon'ble Chief Minister presented a cheque for Rs.48 lakh, on behalf of the Government of Tamil Nadu, to Lance Naik Thiru. A. Meenakshi Sundaram, recipient of the prestigious Kirti Chakra award, and conveyed his appreciation. The event was attended by Hon'ble Minister for Human Resources Management and Ex-Servicemen's Welfare Thiru. T. Varathkumar, Chief Secretary Dr. Mu. Saikumar, IAS, Principal Secretary, Public Department, Tmt. Reeta Harish Thakkar, IAS, Special Secretary, Public Department and Director, Ex-Servicemen's Welfare, Tmt. A. Sundaravalli, IAS, Joint Director (Ex-Servicemen's Welfare), Colonel Thiru. M. Suresh, family members of Lance Naik Thiru. A. Meenakshi Sundaram, and senior government officials. Issued by: Director, Directorate of Information and Public Relations, Chennai-9