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Time of India
11 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
President inaugurates Rashtrapati Niketan, Tapovan on 67th birthday
Dehradun: President Droupadi Murmu on Friday inaugurated part of the Presidential Retreat in Dehradun, now renamed Rashtrapati Niketan, on her 67th birthday and Rashtrapati Tapovan which will be open for public viewing from June 24. The president, who is on a three-day visit to Uttarakhand that began Thursday, also laid the foundation stone for Rashtrapati Udyan, a 132-acre public garden at Rashtrapati Niketan. She also visited the National Institute for the Empowerment of Persons with Visual Disabilities (NIEPVD) and was moved to tears when a group of visually impaired children sang for her on her birthday. Union Minister for social justice and empowerment, Virendra Kumar was also present on the occasion. "The progress of a country or society can be judged by the way it treats persons with disabilities," she said. "India's history is full of inspiring incidents of sensitivity and inclusiveness. Elements of human compassion and love have always been present in our culture and civilisation. Through the Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan, which focuses on creating an accessible physical, transport, information, and communication ecosystem, the govt is striving for empowerment and equal participation of the divyangjan. " She added, "Today's era is one of science and technology. With the help of advanced tools, even people with disabilities can contribute meaningfully to the mainstream. Society must support and encourage them in every sphere." Later, Murmu inaugurated the Rashtrapati Niketan in the presence of Uttarakhand Governor Lt Gen Gurmit Singh (retd) and chief minister Dhami. She also released a postage stamp marking 125 years of the Raj Bhavan in Nainital. The 172-acre Presidential Estate has been transformed from an exclusive retreat into a public space celebrating biodiversity, heritage, and sustainability. Established in 1838 as a camp for the Governor General's Bodyguard, the estate later served as a private retreat for India's presidents. For decades, its serene orchards, colonial stables, and forest trails remained off-limits to the public till the creation of Rashtrapati Niketan, Rashtrapati Tapovan, and Rashtrapati Udyan. Spread across 21 acres, Niketan blends natural beauty with heritage. It now features a 200-seat amphitheatre and visitor amenities designed to foster cultural engagement and reflection. Its corridors showcase curated archival photographs from the Presidential Archives, offering glimpses into key moments of India's history and the evolving role of the presidency. The presidential rooms have been adorned with Uttarakhand's traditional art including Pahari miniatures, Aipan designs, and local crafts reflecting the region's cultural richness. Rashtrapati Tapovan, developed in collaboration with the Uttarakhand forest department, is a serene forest zone inspired by India's ancient tradition of learning in nature. It features silent zones, forest trails, meditation huts, shaded pergolas, and hosts 117 plant species, 52 butterflies, 41 bird species, and seven wild mammals, including protected species. Natural bamboo groves and undisturbed woodland ecosystems enrich the landscape. While Tapovan will open to the public on June 24 while Niketan will open on July 1. Biodiversity conservation lies at the core of the experience. Visitors can join expert-led walks to explore native medicinal plants, understand forest ecology, and learn from local ecological knowledge. Rashtrapati Udyan, for which the president laid a foundation stone, is a 132-acre sustainable public park designed through public consultation. It will include walking and cycling tracks, butterfly domes, an 800-seat amphitheatre, an aviary, and boating zones. Intended as a green lung for Dehradun, it also aims to serve as a national symbol of environmental responsibility. Officials said biodiversity restoration is central across all three zones. Native trees have been replanted, degraded grasslands left untouched to encourage pollinators, and wetlands revived to support amphibians, birds, and aquatic life. Interpretive boards throughout the estate explain these efforts: how the estate's microclimate supports the Doon Valley watershed, why native bees are vital for agriculture, and how small ecological interventions can have lasting impact. Heritage and ecology come together here to create a space that is intellectually enriching, emotionally grounding, and environmentally conscious. A book documenting the biodiversity of Rashtrapati Niketan, Tapovan, and Udyan was also released on the occasion. It catalogues over 300 species of flora and 170 species of fauna, including butterflies, birds, and mammals found across the estate.
NDTV
19 hours ago
- Politics
- NDTV
Video: President Turns Emotional As Visually Impaired Children Sing Birthday Song
Dehradun: President Droupadi Murmu, who is on a three-day visit to Uttarakhand, was moved to tears on Friday as a group of visually impaired children sang a song to wish her on her 67th birthday. Ms Murmu visited the National Institute for the Empowerment of Persons with Visual Disabilities (NIEPVD) here. Addressing the children, the president said she got emotional as they sang beautifully. "I could not hold back my tears. They were singing so beautifully. They were singing from their heart," she said. #WATCH | Dehradun | President Droupadi Murmu gets emotional as the students of the National Institute for the Empowerment of Persons with Visual Disabilities extend birthday wishes to her with a song. — ANI (@ANI) June 20, 2025 The president said the talent possessed by the group reaffirmed her view that children born with disabilities are blessed with certain special abilities. She also encouraged them to move ahead with confidence, saying their success is certain. Ms Murmu asserted that the government policies are designed to empower people with disabilities and provide them equal opportunities to grow. She commended everyone associated with the institute for working with dedication to empower children born with disabilities. "India's history is full of instances of human kindness and inclusiveness," she said and asked the children to contribute to nation-building by getting empowered through education. Addressing the children, Uttarakhand Governor Lt Gen Gurmit Singh (retd) said the country is passing through a transformative phase. "We are moving steadily towards achieving the vision of a strong India by 2047 under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership. You are an integral part of this journey of nation-building," the governor said. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami wished the president a long and healthy life so that the country continues to get the advantage of her guidance. "Her life has been full of struggles. Coming from a very humble background, she rose to positions of eminence and always worked for the uplift of the deprived sections," the chief minister said. The president arrived in Uttarakhand on Thursday. She would inaugurate a renovated President's Retreat -- renamed Rashtrapati Niketan -- for the public here later in the day. She would also inaugurate and lay the foundation of various projects on its sprawling campus. The president will leave for Delhi on June 21 after participating in a yoga demonstration programme at the Police Lines here on International Yoga Day.
India Gazette
19 hours ago
- Politics
- India Gazette
"They sang with their hearts, not voices": President Murmu moved at NIEPVD in Dehradun
Dehradun (Uttarakhand) [India], June 20 (ANI): President Droupadi Murmu grew visibly emotional during her visit to the National Institute for the Empowerment of Persons with Visual Disabilities (NIEPVD) in Dehradun on Friday, as students sang a heartfelt birthday song dedicated to her. 'It seemed they were singing with their hearts, not voices,' she said, fighting back tears. President Murmu was felicitated at the institute by Uttarakhand Governor Lt Gen Gurmit Singh (Retd) and Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami. During her visit, she also inaugurated the newly constructed Rashtrapati Niketan on Rajpur Road. President Murmu became visibly emotional as students of the institute extended birthday wishes to her with a heartfelt song performance. Speaking at the event, President Murmu praised the students' cultural performance, saying, 'The tears did not stop from my eyes. It seemed to me that they were not singing from their necks; they were singing with their hearts--as if God himself resided in their voices.' President Murmu appreciated the institute's role in empowering the visually impaired. 'I am delighted to be among all of you in this institute dedicated to visually impaired persons. I deeply appreciate all those associated with this institution for their contribution to providing education and training, employment opportunities, and raising awareness in society,' she said. She said that a nation's progress can be judged by how it treats persons with disabilities, and added that India's civilizational values are rooted in compassion and inclusion. The President noted that the National Education Policy 2020 includes specific provisions for ensuring equal learning opportunities for differently-abled children. She also mentioned the Accessible India Campaign as a major step toward creating inclusive environments across public and government spaces. Highlighting initiatives at Rashtrapati Bhavan, she said, 'In the month of March this year, the Purple Fest was organised in Amrit Udyan to celebrate the talent, achievements, and aspirations of persons with disabilities.' Calling education a 'powerful medium of empowerment,' the President expressed satisfaction that NIEPVD's Adarsh Vidyalaya students excel in computers, science, music, and sports. Meanwhile, according to the President's Secretariat, the President will release a postage stamp at Raj Bhavan, Nainital, on the completion of its 125 years. On June 21, the President will participate in a mass yoga demonstration at the Uttarakhand State Police Line Maidan, Dehradun on the International Yoga Day. (ANI)
Time of India
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
‘Tu jiye hazaaron saal': President Droupadi Murmu moved to tears as differently-abled students sing birthday song for her during Dehradun visit; watch video
President Droupadi Murmu was moved by a birthday song from visually impaired students during her Uttarakhand visit. She is set to inaugurate a public park and open Rashtrapati Niketan and Tapovan to the public. NEW DELHI: President Droupadi Murmu was visibly emotional on Friday as students of the National Institute for the Empowerment of Persons with Visual Disabilities sang a heartfelt rendition of 'Baar baar din yeh aaye, baar baar dil yeh gaaye, tu jiye hazaaron saal, yeh meri hai aarzoo' to wish her on her birthday. A video of the moment shows the President listening intently as the children, many of them with visual impairments, sang the iconic song in unison, filling the hall with warmth and applause. The touching gesture came during her ongoing three-day visit to Uttarakhand, which began on Thursday. Governor Lt General Gurmit Singh (Retd.) and Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami had received her at Dehradun's Jolly Grant Airport. During her visit, President Murmu is scheduled to lay the foundation stone of a state-of-the-art public park spread across 132 acres on Rajpur Road. The park, officials said, will be completed within a year and opened to the public. In another key highlight, Rashtrapati Niketan — earlier known as Rashtrapati Ashiyana — will be thrown open to the public from June 24. The 24-acre heritage site features artefact displays, water bodies like Lily Talab and Rokari Talab, and a rose garden. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Memperdagangkan CFD Emas dengan salah satu spread terendah? IC Markets Mendaftar Undo Additionally, Rashtrapati Tapovan, a 19-acre serene retreat with wooden bridges and meditation spots, will also be dedicated to the public. Meanwhile, President Murmu's scheduled visit to Madhya Pradesh on June 18–19 has been cancelled. She was slated to attend a state-level event marking World Sickle Cell Day in Barwani district. The Indore Collector confirmed the cancellation on social media, citing changes in her itinerary.
News18
a day ago
- Politics
- News18
Droupadi Murmu Gets Emotional After Visually Impaired Students Wish Her On Birthday
Last Updated: President Mumru arrived in Dehradun on a three-day visit during which she will open to the public the Presidential Niketan. President Droupadi Murmu on Friday got emotional after the students of the National Institute for the Empowerment of Persons with Visual Disabilities extended birthday wishes to her with a song. As per the visuals shared by news agency ANI, Murmu was seen getting emotional and teary eyed after students with visual disabilities sang a birthday song for her. #WATCH | Dehradun | President Droupadi Murmu gets emotional as the students of the National Institute for the Empowerment of Persons with Visual Disabilities extend birthday wishes to her with a song. — ANI (@ANI) June 20, 2025 President Mumru arrived in Dehradun on a three-day visit during which she will open to the public the Presidential Niketan. She will also lay the foundation stone of the President's Park and release a book on the biodiversity of Presidential Niketan. President Murmu will also participate in a state government program on International Day of Yoga on Saturday. Earlier today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and a host of leaders across the political spectrum greeted the President on her 67th birthday. 'Warmest birthday wishes to Rashtrapati Ji. Her life and leadership continue to inspire crores of people across the country. Her unwavering commitment to public service, social justice and inclusive development are a beacon of hope and strength for everyone," PM Modi said on X. 'She has always worked to empower the poor and downtrodden. May she be blessed with a long and healthy life in service of the people," he added. The Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi also extended birthday wishes to her , and prayed for her long and healthy life. In a post on X, Rahul Gandhi wrote, 'Hearty congratulations and best wishes to Honourable President Draupadi Murmu ji on her birthday." (With inputs from agencies) First Published:
