Gandhinagar, Aug 25 (IANS) More than 4.5 lakh rakhis prepared by Anganwadi workers across Gujarat will be sent to soldiers serving along the country's borders as part of the state's "Ek Rakhi Desh Ke Jawano Ke Naam" initiative, officials said on Tuesday.
A 'Raksha Sutra Kalash' containing the rakhis was symbolically handed over to senior personnel of the Indian Army, Air Force, Navy, Border Security Force (BSF) and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in Gandhinagar in the presence of Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi and Women and Child Welfare Minister Manisha Vakil.
The initiative seeks to acknowledge personnel who remain away from their families while performing duties to safeguard the country.
The rakhis, prepared by Anganwadi workers under the guidance of the Women and Child Welfare Department, are intended to convey their prayers and wishes for the safety of the soldiers during Raksha Bandhan.
Gujarat has been observing "Ek Rakhi Desh Ke Jawano Ke Naam" for the past three years.
The initiative has sought to use Raksha Bandhan to strengthen the connection between women in the state and personnel serving in difficult conditions at the borders.
The Raksha Sutra Kalash was received in Gandhinagar by personnel representing the Army, BSF, CRPF and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), while rakhis were also handed over to senior officers representing the Air Force and Navy.
The latest initiative builds on the state's earlier efforts to send rakhis to serving security personnel.
In 2024, Gujarat's Anganwadi workers sent more than one lakh rakhis to soldiers under the same initiative, with the state government describing the gesture as a way of conveying the affection of mothers and sisters to personnel serving away from their homes.
The programme was attended by Women and Child Development Secretary Rakesh Shankar, Commissioner (Women and Child Development) Ranjit Kumar Singh, senior officials of the department, personnel from the BSF, CRPF and NDRF, and Anganwadi workers and supervisors.
--IANS
mys/khz
