India’s 14th President Ram Nath Kovind Completes 3 Years In Office; 'At Home' Celebration Style Changed Due To Covid

President Ram Nath Kovind completed three years in office on Friday. At present like most leaders in the country, he is at the forefront battling the coronavirus outbreak in the country.

New Delhi: Ram Nath Kovind, the 14^th president of India completed three years in office on Friday. Born on October 1^st, 1945 Paraunkh village in the Kanpur Dehat district of Uttar Pradesh, he was practicing law in the Delhi high court and the Supreme Court before he entered politics. He served as the Governor of Bihar in 2015 before being nominated for the post of president in 2017.  Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu also wished the president and said that Kovind ‘epitomizes the qualities of nobility and humility’


The President's office also tweeted about the milestone.


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Usually, celebrations are held in the Rashtrapati Bhavan on Independence Day to commemorate the achievement, and officials from across the country are invited to the function. But this year according to a report by Hindustan Times, 'At Home' celebrations will be held with a small group of guests. The report says instead of '1500 guests' this year might see a 'small group of 40-90 guests'. There is also concern about serving food at the event and plans are still being made regarding it.

Like most leaders in the country, the president is also busy tackling the coronavirus outbreak in India. According to a report by the Indian Express, early in March, the president had ordered the temporary closure of Rashtrapati Bhavan and the change of Guard Ceremony in order to control the crowd. He has also extended support to various state governments during the ongoing crisis. In March he has also contributed one month’s salary to the PM-CARES fund in March and in May had announced that he will forgo 30-per cent salary for a year.

A PTI report said that he also took several other measures to control expenses in the functioning of the Rashtrapati Bhavan such as reduction of domestic tours of the President and cut in guest lists and food menu at official ceremonies. He also deferred the plans to purchase a new Presidential Limousine with an estimated cost of ₹10 crores.

On Friday, the president also took stock of the situation of floods in Assam and spoke to the Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal. He also flagged off trucks carrying relief material for the flood and COVID-19 affected people of Assam, Bihar, and Uttar Pradesh from the Rashtrapati Bhavan.