President Pranab Mukherjee who turned 81 on Sunday marked his birthday at the Rashtrapati Bhavan by launching a campaign to end child labour, child slavery and violence against children.
Mukherjee launched the ‘100 Million for 100 Million Campaign’ organised by Nobel laureate Kailash Satyarthi’s Satyarthi Children’s Foundation in which about 5,000 children participated.
The ambitious campaign aims to mobilise 100 million youth and children for 100 million underprivileged children across the world to end child labour, child slavery, violence against children and promote the right of every child to be safe, free and educated over the next five years.
The President said he was delighted to launch the campaign led by Satyarthi from Rashtrapati Bhavan, “an institution which symbolises our Republic’s commitment to democracy, pluralism and secularism”.
He said despite the progress the world has made in science and technology, economic development and in other fields of human endeavour, there are still over a 100 million children who are “out of school”. They are being denied their childhood and are facing exploitation in various ways.
The President said this global effort to mobilise 100 million youth for shaping a better future of 100 million children who are less privileged is the beginning of a change which was long overdue.
“It is only appropriate that this campaign begins from India, which has one of the largest populations of youth in the world,” he said.
Earlier during the day, led by Prime Minister Narednra Modi who greeted the President on his birth day , political leaders, Governors, distinguished personalities and people from different walks of life also extended their good wishes to the President who was praised by them for his high qualities of head and heart.
Born in at Mirati in West Bengal on December 11, 1935, Mukherjee assumed office as the 13th President of India on July 25, 2012, crowning a political career of over five decades of service to the nation in Government as well as Parliament.
“Birthday wishes to Rashtrapati Ji. His tremendous experience & wisdom has benefited the nation greatly. I pray for his long & healthy life,” said Prime Minister in a tweet.
“Pranab Da always puts India’s interest above everything. We are proud to have such a well read & knowledgeable President,” he said.
Extending warm wishes to President Pranab Mukherjee on his birthday, Congress president Sonia Gandhi hailed him as an “inspiration” to people in public life whose passion for work and love for country is “exemplary”.
With prayers for a long and healthy life, Sonia said, “Mukherjee is an inspiration for all who are in public life.”
“His passion for his work and love for country is exemplary,” she added.
Thanking him for the service to the nation in his long political journey and as the nation’s President, Sonia wished him long and happy life ahead.
Chief Ministers of West Bengal and Bihar also extended their good wishes to Mukherjee.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee greeted Mukherjee and wished him a healthy life ahead.
“Birthday greetings to honourable and most respected Rashtrapatiji,” she said in a tweet.
“Bhalo thakben Pranab Da (stay well Pranab Da),” Banerjee said in the message to Mukherjee, with whom she has had a long political association.
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar also wished happy birthday to the President.
“Mananiya Rashtrapati Shri Pranab Mukherjee ji ko janmdivas ki hardik badhai ewam shumkamnayen @RashtrapatiBhvn (My heartfelt congratulations and greetings to Honorable President Mukherjee on his birthday),” Kumar said in a post on Twitter.
Tamil Nadu Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao greeted Mukherjee on his 81st birthday, hailing his “wisdom, sagacity and statesmanship.”
Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi extended his warm wishes to the President on the day saying “We are fortunate to have Pranab Da’s wise counsel & experience to guide us,” he said in a tweet.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal also wished the President on the occasion.
A series of functions, including the launch of ‘100 Million for 100 Million Campaign’ and release of three books, among others, have been organised at the Rashtrapati Bhawan to mark the President’s birthday.