Chief Minister Raman Singh celebrated the new year on Thursday with inmates of Girls Protection Home at Mana Camp on outskirts of capital Raipur.
He spent about an hour with children and wished them a bright future. The children welcomed the Chief Minister by applying ‘tilak’. The inmates cut the cake and shared their happiness with Singh. Women and Child Development Minister Ramsheela Sahu and Higher Education Minister Premprakash Pande gave their blessings and wishes to the children.
Singh spent some time with S.O.S. Baalgram, a social welfare organisation at Mana Camp. He expressed his happiness that he has spent the new year with his daughters. He asked the girls to study hard. “There are several schemes of the State to help girls pursue higher education. The education of girls will be free in future. The foundation of progress is education. Only an educated person gets respect in the society,’’ Singh was quoted in an official statement as saying.
He encouraged the girls to become doctors, engineers and collectors. He urged them to focus on sports and music, apart from receiving education. He asked the children to be positive about life. “Education is the solution to all problems facing the society,” Chief Minister said. He also added that protection home gives domestic environment to the growing children. About 50 children are residing in the Girls Protection Home. He distributed sweaters to them.
Homeless girls, child beggars, child workers and girls who are mentally and physically disabled are kept in the protection home. Sexually exploited girls, girls whose parents are unable to look after them are also looked after at the home. Girls are provided lodging, boarding, education, training and protection at the home.
Greeting cards made by girls were presented to the Chief Minister. Girls won the heart by music recital.