Kovind presents National Child Awards
NEW DELHI: On the occasion of Children’s Day on Tuesday, President Ram Nath Kovind presented National Child Awards at Rashtrapati Bhavan here.
In a message sent to the Ministry of Women and Child Development on the occasion, Kovind said: “Children are the future of our country. We must make every effort to ensure their welfare.
“We should also make all possible efforts to ensure that children in our country have a safe and happy childhood.
“Every child is a bud waiting to blossom. By awarding children, we recognise and encourage their talent and potential for nation building.
Thepresidentalsocalledforrecognition of signiicant contribution of individuals and institutions who work for causes related to children, said an oficial release.
The awards included the National Child Awards for Exceptional Achievement that give recognition to children with exceptional abilities and outstanding achievements in the ields of innovation, scholastic achievements, sports, arts, culture, social service and music.
National Awards for Child Welfare were given to institutions and individuals for their outstanding work in the ield of child welfare and the Rajiv Gandhi Manav Seva Awards were given individuals for their outstanding contribution towards service for children. Later, the President celebrated Children’s Day with students and children from various institutions. Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Tuesday hit out at a journalist for asking whetherchildren’sdayshouldbede-linked fromjawaharlalnehru’sbirthanniversary, calling the query “very pervert”.
Speaking at a government function here, organised to distribute laptops to Class XII students, Parrikar also said that computers should be used to analyse news and not to blindly follow news content.
“Someone asked me, do you think that Nehru should be de-linked from Children’s Day? This is a very pervert question,” he said. “Why should it be done. We celebrate Children’s Day because he (Nehru) liked children. Let us observe it.” Children’s Day is celebrated on Nov.14 to commemorate the birth anniversary of Nehru.
Former Supreme Court judge Gyan Sudha Misra on Tuesday said there is a need to enact special safety law for children in the country. She said this at a programme that was attended by parents of Pradhyumn, who was killed in his Gurugram-based school two months ago.
“Parliament needs to enact special safety law for children in the country,” Misra said while addressing the gathering at Rajendra Bhawan here, according to a release. Pradhyumn’s father Barun Chandra Thakur, who has formed Pradhyumn Foundation, said would dedicate his life to the cause of children.
Thakur said he would move around the country in order to ensure that the foundation’s Child Safety Campaign, which was lagged off on the Children’s Day here, got fructiied, the release said.
Asking “what was the fault of my son”, Sushama, mother of Pradhyumn, reiterated her demand for justice.
Misra joined the Child Safety Campaign at ITO in Delhi on Tuesday, where she was accompanied by many parents and activists. Supreme Court lawyer Kamalesh Mishra said there should be an association of parents and teachers to discuss child-related issues.
The literary scene was quite different when Bookaroo — Indias irst childrens literature festival — began its humble journey. This year, it turns 10 and over 60 award-winning writers, illustrators, poets and storytellers, from 18 countries will enthrall young audiences here.