CM presents Gomant Bal Bhushan awards to children

Panaji, Nov 14 (UNI) Chief Minister Pratapsingh Rane led Goa in paying rich tributes to the first Prime Minister of India late Jawaharlal Nehru on the latter's birth anniversary, being celebrated as the Children's Day today.

In this connection, the Chief Minister presented ''Gomant Bal Bhushan Awards-2005'' to nine children for their meritorious performance in science, art and creative writing skills.

He felicitated Rajendra B Gawas, who led the Indian children's delegation to the 7th Asian Physics Olympiad at Almaty, Kazakastan in April last.

In this connection, the Chief Minister assured the people that the day would henceforth be celebrated officially in memory of the late Prime Minister, who contributed to the modernisation of India.

Children, he said, are the future generation of India and we have to encourage them in all aspects and bring out the talent in them.

The recepients included Akhilesh Sanjay Prabhu Khope, who received the prestigious National Balshree award for excellence in the field of innovative science from President Dr A P J Abdul Kalam in May last.

The awards carry, besides a scroll and cash award of Rs 2,500, a set of books in recognition of their talent. They were originally instituted in the year 2002 by the state Bal Bhawan.

Significantly, Goa had the distinction of achieving the highest honour with its seven children obtaining the coveted Balshree awards during the last ten years, according to Goa Bal Bhawan chairperson Vijayadevi Rane.

She urged the government for official recognition of the awards to encourage children which amounts to fulfilling the dreams of late Jawaharlal Nehru.

The children later presented thrilling dance performances including invocation Bharatanatyam, Koli, Goff, Haryanvi, Mussal and Ghode. They were followed by a grand finale with all troupes thronging on the stage and the audience with a variety of masks and singing in praise of Cha Cha Nehru at the Kala Academy.

The complex reverberated with the claps of the audience who also joined the chorus.

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