Pranab to mark first anniversary with people-friendly moves

Evident from the new initiatives he is set to announce on Wednesday to mark his first year in office as President, Pranab Mukherjee is aiming to transform himself from a mere people’s representative to a people’s president.

Top of the list is throwing Rashtrapati Bhavan open to people, enabling the public to access rare historical speeches, books, public library and even a cricket ground, as a way of demonstrating Mukherjee’s belief that the presidential palace belongs to the people.
On his first anniversary, the President will also unveil a bronze statue of Mahatma Gandhi and interact with Governors across the country through a new video conferencing facility installed in the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

An astute politician who earned the Sobriquet of ‘crises manager’ during his days as a union minister, Mukherjee is establishing himself as a President open to people.

He will launch a digital section on the official website inviting people to access rare historical speeches like “Tryst with Destiny” and “Death of Mahatma Gandhi”, delivered by Jawaharlal Nehru and other prominent leaders who contributed to the country’s history, according to an official release from the President’s press secretary Venu Rajamony.
For engaging nearly 8000 residents of the President’s estate, a cricket ground has been constructed at Dr Rajendra Prasad Sarvodaya Vidyalaya in compliance with the latest BCCI guidelines. The President will open the “Pranab Mukherjee Public Library” for residents of the Rashtrapati Bhavan Estate and their children.

The library was in a dilapidated condition and was marked for demolition, but now it has been remade into a modern library stashed with rich collection of books and a special section for children. The library will offer facilities for students to prepare for competitive exams, Rajamony said.

A booklet  titled, “Change and Renewal, A Year Since Assumption of Office by Shri Pranab Mukherjee, the Honourable President of India”, was also distributed to the media during an interaction.