The President today began a three-day visit to his hometown Murbhanj in Odisha. He said that alcoholism is a social, economic, physical and mental curse. He said, “Drugs create tension in the family and society. That’s why people need to be aware of the ill-effects of its consumption.” He hopes that people with drug addiction will make successful efforts to quit it.
Earlier, Odisha Governor Ganeshi, Union minister Bisheshwar Tudu, state’s other mining minister Prafulla Malik and local people accorded a traditional welcome to Murmu at the ‘Badampahar helipad’.
After staying at their native place the Murmu walk about half a kilometer on the road and are met by people including drawn men, women and children, who have stopped on both sides of the road and wait impatiently for them to obey.
When Murmu reached his in-laws’ house in Paharpur village of Rairangpur sub-division, about five kilometers from the helipad, people there accepted him.
The President also laid the foundation stone of a skill training and community center in the village. Murmu later attended a civic reception in Rairangpur town, from where he started his political career.
Officials said that many hoardings and banners have been put up in Rairangpur and Paharpur to welcome Murmu. Around 1,500 New Delhiites, led by 100 officers, have been barricaded at different places in view of the President’s visit, a senior official said.
This is Murmu’s first visit to Rairangpur in Murbhanj district after assuming the country’s top constitutional post and becoming the country’s first notable President. Rairangpur is also his birthplace.
She installed at Paharpur a statue of her disabled husband Shyam Charan Murmu and visited the SLS Memorial School in the area.
The President will attend the convocation ceremony of Maharaja Shri Ram Chandrabhanj Dev University in Baripada and will also visit Similipal Tiger Reserve during his three-day visit.
“This will be the first visit by any president to Similipal National Park,” said an official. During this, he also inaugurated the 100 feet flag pole for hoisting the tricolor near Badabandh near Rairangpur.