Anantapur: Elaborate arrangements are being made to mark former president Neelam Sanjeeva Reddy’s death anniversary at his native village, Illur, in Garladinne mandal on Saturday.
Several ministers and officials would take part in the function. The state government had sanctioned Rs 6.5 crore towards giving a facelift to Illur, where he had been showered with affection after his retirement from politics.
Meanwhile, the administration is taking joint efforts to celebrate the birth centenary of the deceased leader in Anantapur and Hyderabad on November 1. The concluding function would be held at the Neelam Sanjeeva Reddy Stadium in Anantapur, said revenue minister N. Raghuveera Reddy, adding that President Pranab Mukherjee would be invited as the chief guest for the function in November.
As part of the five-month-long celebrations starting Saturday, the authorities plan to recall the services of the departed leader at the function at his village on June 1.
In-charge collector S. Satyanarayana said the revenue minister had allotted Rs 6.5 crore for the village to take the various developmental activities there forward. The district administration has arranged cultural programmes with the local artists, as also a photo exhibition, to recall the services of the former president.
Karntaka chief minister Siddaramaiah would pay tributes to Sanjeeva Reddy at his grave in Bengaluru on Saturday morning. He would be accompanied by ministers Anam Ramanarayana Reddy and Raghuveera Reddy. Later, the two ministers would arrive in Illur village from Bengaluru by road.