The President Spends Time With Specially Abled Children and Meets People From Different Walks of Life on the Occasion of Her 75th Birthday

The President of India, Smt. Pratibha Devisingh Patil met people from different walks of life at Rashtrapati Bhavan today, on the occasion of her 75th birthday. Those who greeted the President on the occasion were students, teachers, children from orphanages, members of women's organizations, academicians, social welfare workers, freedom fighters, doctors and professionals in various fields.

The President also participated in the function to mark the Silver Jubilee of the Tamana Association, which works for the welfare of specially abled children. Attending the function the President witnessed a cultural programme by the specially abled children and said she always tries to spend her time, on her birthday, with organizations that work in the field of social welfare. The President also said she was overwhelmed by the love and affection of the children, who had prepared a special cake and a greeting card for her. The President also announced the donation of Rs. 75,000 to the corpus fund of the Tamana Association, to help in its efforts to fulfill its objectives.

The President also sent blankets to various orphanages in Delhi. These are: - Bachchon Ka Ghar, Bachiyon Ka Ghar, Madrasa Islamia, Delhi Cheshire Home, the Association for the Advancement and Rehabilitation of the Handicapped, the Arya Mahila Aashram and the Home for the Blind.

During the day the Vice-President, Shri Hamid Ansari and his wife Smt. Salma Ansari, the Speaker of the Lok Sabha, Smt. Meira Kumar, the Governor of Sikkim, Shri B.P. Singh and the three Service Chiefs, General Deepak Kapoor, Air Chief Marshal P.V. Naik and Admiral Nirmal Verma and other dignitaries also called-on her.

The release issued at 1500 hrs