President of India Presents the Rashtrapati Scout/guide/rover/ranger and Adult Leader Awards/certificates

<p>The President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee presented the Rashtrapati Scout/Guide/Rover/Ranger and Adult Leader Awards/Certificates for the year 2013 at a function at Rashtrapati Bhavan today (February 16, 2015).</p><p>Speaking on the occasion, the President said that the tradition of the Rashtrapati Award/Certificates has continued since 1961, when the First President of India, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, associated himself with The Bharat Scouts and Guides organisation. The due recognition of the highest achievers has always inspired generations of scouts and guides towards giving their best for community-service and nation-building. He said that he was happy to note that their dedication and purposeful activities, at such a tender age, are paving the way for national integration as well as international harmony in equal measure.</p><p>The President said that The Bharat Scouts and Guides can be the perpetual platform to nurture leadership at the grassroots level. He drew attention of Scouts and Guides to the recently-launched ‘Swachch Bharat Abhiyan’, the pan-India movement that is truly based on ‘dignity of labour’, a value that was so dear to Mahatma Gandhi and said that it was his firm belief that The Bharat Scouts and Guides stands poised to inculcate the basic sense of self-confidence, self-reliance and passion for national duty in each and every one of them. He called upon The Bharat Scouts and Guides to infuse a greater sense of tolerance in young minds, whilst allowing them to summarily reject any divisive agenda. He said that he would like to thank each and every member of the organisation for their selfless services rendered that not only bring succour to the deprived and the needy, but also enhance the reputation of our country in the eyes of the international community.</p><p>16 Silver Elephant, 1 Bar to Silver Star, 10 Silver Star Awards, Rashtrapati Scout/Guide Certificates (33 Nos. in pairs) and Rashtrapati Rover/Ranger Certificates (16 Nos. in pairs) were presented on the occasion.</p><p class="last-word">This release issued at 1340 hrs.</p>