Excelsior Correspondent
NEW DELHI, June 9: Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Youth Affairs and Sports, MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh will accompany President Pranab Mukherjee on a three nation tour to Ghana, Namibia and Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) beginning June 12.
A communiqué from Rashtrapati Bhawan stated that Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) had endorsed the name of Dr Jitendra Singh to be part of the high – level Presidential delegation which will also include senior Members of Parliament, S.S.Ahluwalia, Mansukh Lal Mandaviya and Bijoya Chakravarty.The delegation will leave New Delhi on June 12 morning and return on June 18 forenoon.
The visit assumes special significance because of the strategic and diplomatic importance that these countries have, of late, begun to enjoy in the emerging global scenario and a high profile Presidential visit is also an indicator of the significance that India attaches to these countries.
On the first leg of the tour, the President will arrive at Kotoka International Airport, Accra in Ghana on June 12 evening and during the next two days his engagements will include a meeting with the President of Ghana and a visit to the Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research, University of Ghana, where he will also address the University Faculty and students followed by a reception by the Indian community.
On the second leg of the tour, the President will arrive at Abidjan International Airport on June 14 forenoon where he will be received by Alassane Ouattara, President of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire. During the stay in Côte d’Ivoire, in addition to delegation level talks, signing of important agreements is also scheduled. The President is also scheduled to address the “Federation of Ivorian Business Enterprises”.
The President, along with his delegation, will arrive at Hosea Kutako International Airport, Namibia on June 15 evening where a meeting is scheduled with President of Republic of Namibia, Hage Geingob in addition to address by President Pranab Mukherjee in Parliament of the Republic of Namibia. Signing of important MoUs and agreements will also take place, besides the delegation-level talks. A visit to Namibia University of Science & Technology and address by President Pranab Mukherjee is also part of the itinerary.
During his stay, the President will also visit the Memorial called Heroes Acre to pay his tributes.
Meanwhile, a delegation of CPWD Engineers called on Dr Jitendra Singh today at his DoPT office in North Block and handed over a memorandum seeking Government’s intervention to address,what they described as, injustice and pay anomalies as far as the 6th and 7th Pay Commissions are concerned. They said, they had refused to take benefits of 6th Pay Commission because of disparity in pay bands.
The members of delegation sought the Minister’s intervention to correct the existing anomalies in follow-up to 6th Pay Commission and requested him to put up their case in proper perspective.
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