President Droupadi Murmu today urged school students to extend the core values of Rakshabandhan, that is, love, care and protection, to the environment. The President said this while celebrating Raksha Bandhan with students from schools across the country at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

President Murmu said that the festival symbolises a bond of love that could be shared with anyone including family members, friends and even trees. Expressing concern at the deteriorating balance of the environment, the President asked students to tie rakhis on plants and trees to preserve the equilibrium necessary for survival. Emphasising that students were the future of the country, the President said that the resolve taken to plant and nurture trees should become a lifelong commitment.

Nearly ninety students participated in the special celebration, including 13 Children with Special Needs from 17 states, one Union Territory, Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan and Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti. As part of their visit to the national capital, the students visited Pradhan Mantri Sangrahalaya yesterday.