President Pranab arrives on maiden visit
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, April 15 2013: As part the first phase of his three-day long visit to the Northeastern States of Sikkim and Manipur, President of India Dr Pranab Mukherjee arrived here today amid boycott and state-wide general strike calls given by various UG groups to grace the diamond jubilee celebration of Adim Jati Sikhsha Ashram at Chingmeirong.

This is the first visit of Dr Pranab Mukherjee to Manipur after assuming the office of President of India in July, 2012 .

fter wrapping up his visit to Sikkim where he laid the foundation stone for the SRM State University at Gangtok, Dr Pranab alighted from a special flight, K-5014 of the Indian Airlines which landed at Imphal Tulihal Airport at the head of his entourage around 4:30 pm today.

At the airport, the President was given a befitting welcome by Governor Gurbachan Jagat, Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh, Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam, Chief Secretary DS Poonia and DGP Y Joykumar.

Chief Minister O Ibobi and Rajya Sabha MP Rishang Keishing presenting a painting to the visiting President

A contingent of Manipur Police, which was preparing to give Guard of Honour to the first citizen of the country, however, had to cancel their plan in the last minute due to heavy and uninterrupted rainfall, which hit the State.

So, from the airport, the President was escorted in his specially designed vehicle to Raj Bhawan.

Later, President Dr Pranab Mukherjee went to Adim Jati Shiksha Ashram at around 5 pm where he attended the Diamond Jubilee celebration of the Ashram as Chief Guest and unveiled the jubilee monument and inaugurated an amity hall as well as a hostel for Scheduled Tribe/ Scheduled Caste girls.

He also laid the foundation stones for a tribal working Women's hostel and a tribal boys' hostel there.

Later, addressing the gathering, President Dr Pranab Mukherjee stated that freedom struggle of India from British rule was not meant to simply change from one administration to another.

It was aimed at providing a specific platform for the people of the country and in order to ensure this specific platform, the people should be equipped with necessary knowledge on administration.

As such, Right to Information Act has been implemented in the country so as to enable the people to get hold on all the required information.

All the people have also been given the Right to Education as well as the right to get employment as guaranteed under MGNREGS.

The President observed that mere freedom from political slavery is not the real freedom.

Nor is economic dependence and freedom from exploitation of the culture and tradition, can be termed as real freedom.

This is being highlighted in the Constitution of India, he added.

Furthermore, he said that in Manipur there were a number of brave and courageous freedom fighters who had sacrificed their lives for their motherland.

It is because of this fact that Manipur became the last State to come under British rule.

The President also maintained that the rich tradition which the State of Manipur has given to India is not only unique, but also based on the age old customs.

All the North Eastern States in general and Manipur in particular has not gained anything worthwhile ever since the first financial year till today.

Delivering the Presidential speech, Governor Gurbachan Jagat noted that the only thing that the people in far off places long for is proper educational facilities and good health care facilities.

It is because the doctors and teachers are reluctant to go there as not much development has been seen in these two spheres.

We need to focus more on establishing good primary schools, middle schools and primary health centre in the hills and other faraway places of the State, the Governor observed, and added that Adimjati Shiksha Ashram whose foundation was first laid by first President of India Dr Rajndra Prasad, has been playing a great role in providing better education to the people from the hills and other remote places.

Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh, who was also present on the occasion as one of the Guests of Honour, stated that Guest House for Tribals, Nursing College, Library and computers are all set to be set up within the complex of the Ashram.

He also recalled the history of establishment of Adim Jati Ashram and acknowledged that scholar and social worker Deshbhandu Adhikari, a native of Uttar Pradesh, had made great contribution towards setting up of the ashram which started functioning on March 3, 1952.Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam and Rajya Sabha MP Rishang Keishing, who is also the Chief Patron of Adim Jati Shiksha Ashram, were also present on the occasion as Guests of Honour.

Top officials of different Government departments, Cabinet ministers, Secretary Donor, DGP, Manipur assembly Speaker, Parliamentary Secretaries and MLAs attended the event.