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Flag Day was observed today with special programmes throughout the country. A group of children and officers of the National Foundation for Communal Harmony pinned Flags on the President, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, the Vice President, Shri Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, the Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh and the Home Minister, Shri Shivraj V. Patil during the day. The children affected by communal violence came from Udhampur, Kathua (Jammu & Kashmir) and Sitapur in Uttar Pradesh.
The National Foundation for Communal Harmony which was set up as an autonomous organization under the Home Ministry in 1992 has been observing ‘Communal Harmony Campaign and Fund Raising Week’ every year from the 19th to 25th November. The week culminates in the observance of the Flag Day.
The NFCH assists the child victims of communal, caste, ethnic or terrorist violence by extending financial assistance ranging from Rs.600 to 650 per month to each child up to the age of 18 years which may be extended to 21 years in exceptional cases. So far, 5500 children have been assisted and a sum of over ten crore rupees have been disbursed to these children by this organization.
The Union Home Minister is the Chairman of the Governing Council of the Foundation which consists of 24 other members including the Ministers of Human Resource Development, Information and Broadcasting, Social Justice and Empowerment and non-official representatives from Media and other fields like social work, art, literature and industry.
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