Pranab Mukherjee completes one-year in office

New Delhi, July 25: As President Pranab Mukherjee completes a year in office on Thursday, he has a busy schedule for the day which includes unveiling of a bronze statue of Mahatma Gandhi sculpted by a 89-year-old man and launching of a project to digitise rare photographs.

The President, who has made only two foreign visits during the year and travelled extensively within the country, will begin his day by inaugurating "Pranab Mukherjee Public Library" for the residents of the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

The library was built in a dilapidated building in the President's Estate which was scheduled for demolition. However, it was renovated and converted into a library for use by the residents of the Rashtrapati Bhavan Estate and their children, Rashtrapati Bhavan spokesperson Venu Rajamony said in a statement.

Fully air conditioned, the library will have a rich collection of books, newspapers and magazines for all age groups as well as a special children's section. Facilities like reading rooms will be provided for young students to prepare for competitive and other examinations, he said.

Another engagement for the residents of President's estate, which houses nearly 8,000 residents, will be a cricket ground at Dr Rajendra Prasad Sarvodaya Vidyalaya. The stadium, constructed according to latest BCCI guidelines, is aimed at providing better cricket facilities to the students of the school, established in 1949 and which has 60 teachers and 1600 students.

Mukherjee will unveil within the Rashtrapati Bhavan the bronze statue of Gandhi made by Ram Sutar of Maharashtra.

Sutar, who was born in the family of a poor carpenter, is considered a master of stone, marble and bronze sculpturing. He was given Padma Shree in 1999 and his bronze statues of eminent leaders adorn the Parliament, government buildings and other public places.

During the day, Mukherjee will interact with governors across the country through a new video conferencing facility installed in the Rashtrapati Bhavan and host a dinner for the Council of Ministers, the spokesperson said.

PTI