PANCHKULA, Nov 14: Hundreds of children gathered at the Sector 16 HUDA park for the state-level Children's Day celebrations held there today. Haryana Governor Mahabir Prasad, who was the chief guest on the occasion, exhorted the educationists, teachers, parents and voluntary organisations to extend their full cooperation for achieving the national target of providing free compulsory primary education to all the children in the age group of 14 years. Lamenting that after more than 52 years of independence, majority of our population is still illiterate, he said an increased rate of literacy at both the national and state levels is the key to the country's overall development.The Governor, while paying his tributes to Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru, said even Panditji, who was a nation builder, loved children and wished for their all-round development.
Lauding the efforts of the state government, the Haryana Child Welfare Council and its district branches in this regard, the Governor said the state government, through its Women and Child Welfare Department and the State Child Welfare Council through its 16 Bal Bhavans, 18 mini-Bal Bhavans, 116 balwaris and 281 creches were providing numerous educational, health, nutrition and entertainment facilities for the development of children.
Speaking on the occasion, Deputy Commissioner S.K. Monga said the administration would soon set up a Bal Bhavan and Deaf and Dumb Centre in the district. The Governor also gave away prizes to the students who had excelled in various educational and co-curricular activities like sports, cultural shows, painting etc. A cultural programme was also presented by children. Earlier, the Governor visited the children's home Ashiana being run by a voluntary organisation here, and providing free education, health and residential facilities to about 35 orphaned and destitute children.
Copyright © 1999 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
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