March 11, 2026 06:38 pm (IST)
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Pranab marks birthday launching several initiatives
New Delhi, Dec 11 (IBNS): President Pranab Mukherjee marked his 79th birthday launching several new initiatives in Rashtrapati Bhavan on Thursday.
The President unveiled on the President of India website (www.presidentofindia.nic.in) a new Electronic Art Catalogue titled ‘Art Heritage of RashtrapatiBhavan: A Selection’ and laid the foundation stone for a staff Housing Complex of two ten storey residential towers.
The President witnessed performances of nursery and KG students as well as differently-abled children of the Estate and launched ‘Samagam’, a community initiative for senior citizens residing in the President’s Estate. Both the children and senior citizens joined the Mukherjee in cutting a cake.
He inaugurated a Financial Literacy Centre and a Financial Library at Dr.Rajendra Prasad SarvodayaVidyalaya in the President’s Estate. A Financial Awareness Festival was also held in which students of Dr.Rajendra Prasad SarvodayaVidyalaya as well as residents of the President’s Estate were trained in financial literacy using a model bank branch of the State Bank of India.
NPCI through RuPay Cards gave Rs. 25/- credit to each student to buy books, educating them thereby about card transactions. Financial games, quizzes and other activities were also organized for students, children and parents.
Mukherjee further inaugurated a ‘RB Cycle’ initiative under which, 50 cycles are to be made available at four locations in the Estate to promote fitness and health amongst residents of the President’s Estate.
Speaking on the occasion of the launch of the E Art Catalogue, the President said the Catalogue would be of great use to researchers, art lovers and visitors to RashtrapatiBhavan. Maintenance of art and heritage is as important as its creation. Every effort must be made to preserve the rich art repository in RashtrapatiBhavan.
He drew attention to the historical context of many of the art objects and paintings in RashtrapatiBhavan, such as, the painting of Louis XV which was won by the British as spoils in the battle against the French in 1757 and asked that the Catalogue be progressively expanded.
He said greater efforts should be made to locate and research the history of art objects transferred from Calcutta and Shimla to Delhi as well as those left behind.
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