Baripada: President Droupadi Murmu arrived at Khiching of Mayurbhanj’s on Wednesday afternoon on a four-day visit to the state.
She landed at the temporary helipad at Pandarashila football ground in Sukrili where she was received by Odisha Governor Raghubar Das and Union Minister Bishweswar Tudu. Today, Murmu visited Khiching in Mayurbhanj district to offer prayers at Maa Kichakeswari Temple. Later, she laid the foundation stone of Central Government Holiday Home at Rairangpur, also her hometown. On the occasion, she also laid the foundation stones for various road projects and a sports complex at Rairangpur as well as inaugurated Eklavya Model Residential School, Barsahi.
During her four-day visit, President Murmu is scheduled to attend a slew of events in Keonjhar, Sambalpur, Berhampur, Cuttack, and Bhubaneswar. On February 29, the President will spend most of the day in Keonjhar district attending two major programmes and in the evening she will be addressing the convocation of Utkal University in Bhubaneswar.
She is scheduled to interact with the members of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups of Kadalibadi village at Gonasika and then inaugurate a national seminar on ‘Tribes of Keonjhar: People, Culture and Heritage’ and address the students of Dharanidhar University at its North Campus.
The 53rd convocation of Utkal University will begin from 5.25 pm and continue till 6.15 pm. While 166 students will receive PhD degrees, 95 will receive gold medals, University vice-chairperson Prof Sabita Acharya informed.
On March 1, Murmu will grace the 25th convocation of Berhampur University in Bhanja Bihar. Later at Cuttack, she will grace the golden jubilee celebration of Brahma Kumaris, Odisha. “The President will witness a presentation of PM JANMAN by the Government of Odisha at Raj Bhavan, Bhubaneswar,” the statement said.
On March 2, President Murmu will visit various places related to Santha Kabi Bhima Bhoi in Sambalpur district of Odisha. She will also meet the followers of Mahima Cult at Mini Stadium there.
Earlier, Chief Secretary P K Jena directed all the district collectors and superintendents of police to make arrangements for a smooth tour of the President.