Chief Minister Raman Singh paid glowing tributes to former President of India late Dr APJ Abdul Kalam on the eve of his second death anniversary which falls on July 27 (Thursday).
In his message, the Chief Minister said that popularly known as 'Missile Man' 'Bharat Ratna' Dr Kalam had made it through the toughest circumstances in life and reached the heights of success.
Singh said “ keeping in view his inspiring thoughts regarding education system of the country, Chhattisgarh Government is conducting education quality improvement programme since last two years. Chhattisgarh is the first state of the country to have started 'Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Education Quality Campaign'.
The Chief Minister remembered the tours of late Dr Kalam to Chhattisgarh, while saying that even before taking charge as President of India, he used to visit Chhattisgarh as the head of DRDO and was quite impressed with the natural beauty of Bastar region.”
It is noteworthy that after taking charge as President, Dr Kalam visited Raipur for the first time as Chief Guest of the convocation ceremony of Pt Ravishankar Shukla University on January 28, 2004. On the same day, he had given an inspiring and memorable speech at the Chhattisgarh Assembly here.
On June 3, 2004, Dr Kalam had visited Sargipal area of Bastar district. On November 7, 2006 also, he had visited Raipur as Chief Guest of Rajya Alankaran Samaroh. On the same day he had inaugurated Purkhauti Muktangan and attended plantation programme in village Sundarkera.
As former President, Dr Kalam had inaugurated the fourth international conference on sickle cell anaemia, held at Jawahar lal Nehru Medical College of Raipur on November 22, 2010. later, he had attended district-level teachers' felicitation programme held in Bemetara Headquarters on September 12, 2013.