TRANSPARENCY OF ABDUL KALAM, THE OUTGOING PRESIDENT OF INDIA
Dear Kids,
Those of you who are from India would be familiar with our beloved Abdul Kalam - A great president, and more importantly, a loveable human being.
All of you must have heard many stories about his various positive qualities (besides his great intelligence) - simplicity, transparency, honesty, etc.
Here is an example:
This anecdote is a revelation - so far kept under wraps at Rashtrapati Bhavan (under Presidential orders): In May 2006, President Kalam's relatives from the South decided to descend on him (as relatives tend to often do).
On instructions of the President they were welcomed by his staff at the railway station, and were looked after right up to the time they departed.
But the Controller of Household was under strict instructions to keep a meticulous account of all the expenses incurred on behalf of the relatives - all 53 of them. Not once was an office vehicle used for any of them.
It was made clear by the President that he would pay - not only for the transport of all his relatives to and from Delhi, and also within Delhi. He would also pay for the various rooms occupied by them at Rashtrapati Bhavan and the food that was consumed by them - the rooms at the prescribed rate, the food on the basis of expenses actually incurred.
When his relatives left after a week's stay, the President was of course sad to see them all go, but he was also lighter in his pocket: the total expenses debited to his personal account was Rs 3,54,924/=!
As practising lawyers often say in court, "the facts speak for themselves". President Kalam has set a high benchmark of rectitude in public office - worthy of emulation. And, as a living embodiment of 'Transparency-
This is indeed a rare example of transparency and honesty in the midst of all the negative examples that we read in newspapers about people giving and accepting bribes, misusing their official position, etc.
Happy reading!
Uncle N
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