PRESIDENT LEADS THE NATION IN PAYING
TRIBUTES TO DR AMBEDKAR
The President Dr. A.P.J. Abdul
Kalam led the nation today in paying tributes to the Bharat Ratna
Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, architect of the Indian Constitution, on his
112th Birth Anniversary.
At a
function held at the Parliament House Lawns here this morning,
the President Dr. Kalam, accompanied by the Deputy Prime Minister
Shri Lal Krishna Advani and the Deputy
Chairperson of the Rajya Sabha Dr. (Smt.) Najma Heptulla paid
floral tributes at the statue of Baba Saheb Ambedkar. Several
other Ministers including Smt. Sushma Swaraj, Shri Ram, Naik,
Dr. C P Thakur and dignitaries like the leader of the opposition
Smt. Sonia Gandhi were present on the occasion.
The function was organised
by the Ambedkar Foundation, Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment.
The Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Dr. Satya Narayan
Jatiya received the dignitaries.
Dr. Jatiya informed the President
about the three new schemes prepared by the ministry for the welfare
of the Scheduled Caste students. These are - full scholarship
for education in reputed public schools; establishing quality
residential schools in low literacy districts; and setting up
of Dr. Ambedkar community centers.
The Buddhist
monks from within and outside the country chanted hymns and the
artists from the Song & Drama Division of the Ministry of
Information & Broadcasting presented songs praising Baba Saheb.
