President hosts children from 'turbulent' regions

New Delhi, Aug 28 (UNI) Several children, hailing from regions in India marked by turbulency, met President Pratibha Patil at Rashtrapati Bhawan this morning and forged a bonding of love and affection with their 'Tai' (elder sister) in the true spirit of Raksha Bandhan.

Children's from insurgency hit Kashmir and North-east, tsunami hit Tamil Nadu and communal riot hit Gujarat, tying Rakhi on President Pratibha Patil was a theapeutic experience, coming as a healing touch to their scarred souls on this day of 'bother-sister' bonding.

These are the children who have been robbed of their natural childhood, courtesy man made disasters and natural disasters.

The delegation consisted of children affected by militancy, communal violence, riots, HIV positive and those affected by natural disasters.

The children, aged between nine and 17 years of age - found solace in the company of the President in sync with the spirit of Raksha Bandhan.

The event was organised by mediapersons and social activist Manoj Rastogi with chairperson of the Children Film Society of India, Nafisa Ali in association with SPice Jet Airlines.

''We hope this visit will provide these children with a sort of therapy as they are coming out of their respective environment or problem zone for the first time'', ''said Mr Rastogi.

Among the children was 14-year-old Ishfaq from whose father was a militant died in an army encounter in 1993, Naseer Wani whose father was abducted and killed by 'unidentified' armed persons in 1993 and Shoib from whose father was killed by militants in 1998 when he was just two months old. All the three belong to Kupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir.

In the group was also a 11-year-old Lukrom Thoi Devi from the North-east whose parents died of HIV-related disease and three children from the tsunami hit district of Nagapattinum in Tamil Nadu.

UNI