lauding the role of India's first Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru on his birth anniversary on Saturday, Chief Minister Harish Rawat said his contribution of drawing the world leaders’ attention to the welfare of children was monumental.
"He embodied love for the children. Having empathy for them, he could easily comprehend the natural instincts and inclinations of the children. This was why the children used to call him 'Chacha' affectionately. This was a reciprocal gesture and the tradition still continues with the warmth intact despite the passage of time," he said while addressing a commemorative programme organised on Cant Road by Women Empowerment and Child Development to mark the day.
Branding the newborns and the infants as the biggest VVIPs of his Government, he said Uttarakhand is emerging as caring society for the children.
"The State government is making all efforts to link the society with such significant social responsibility like child care. Children are our future. We have linked child welfare with women welfare for better child care. Maternity welfare being the focal point of child welfare, we have to think comprehensively of the development of all the children," CM said.
love and affection are more important than money for the purpose, he said while asking the parents to see to it that their children are unaffected by the bouts of depression they are vulnerable to.
Referring to the present- day pressure of studies the children are made to carry on their delicate shoulders, he exhorted the educationists to think about how the weight of the school bags can be reduced.
CM informed that 5-5 model schools are being opened on an experimental basis in every block to provide them with quality education near their homes by State Government. "These schools will have all the required facilities and they are being linked with Aganbaris so as to ensure that they get mother's affection along with good education," he said, adding that the Bhojanmatas will be trained to provide nutritious meals to the children.
Dwelling on the Khilti Kaliyan and Palna schemes which are being implemented for the orphans, CM said that licenses will be generously issued for the purpose. "However, we seek cooperation from all the stakeholders to make the schemes success," he said.
CM distributed the letters of appreciation to the winners of Healthy Baby Show Competition involving the Aganbari centres for all age- group children. CM also presented tablets to meritorious students who stood first in high school examinations. This aside, some girls and students were given cycles and Aganbari workers were felicitated during the programme.
While addressing it, Principal Secretary Radha Raturi gave detailed information regarding various schemes being implemented for the welfare of women and development of children.
Prior to this, Chief Minister paid floral tribute to Pandit Nehru at a programme organised at Bijapur Guest House. Besides, he participated in a programme organised at Rajiv Gandhi Bhawan on Rajpur Road and took part in a 'Padyatra' organized to boost mutual tolerance and communal harmony. He garlanded the statue of Pandit Nehru near Gandhi Park too.