President presents Bharat Scouts and Guides awards

President Pranab Mukherjee Monday presented awards to the Bharat Scouts and Guides as he lauded their "untiring" efforts in rescue and rehabilitation operations in Uttarakhand which was ravaged by flash floods in June.

The Rashtrapati scout and adult leader awards/certificates for the year 2011 and 2012 were presented at a function held at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Mukherjee conveyed his "deep appreciation" to the Bharat Scouts and Guides for their efforts in rescue and rehabilitation operations - including just a few months ago during the devastating floods in Uttarakhand.

"You have been at the forefront in extremely challenging situations," said Mukherjee.

The president said that the guiding dictum of Scouts and Guides, "duty to god, duty to others and duty to self", would ingrain in them spiritual principles that "builds character".

"It would impel them to spread the virtues of mutual respect and brotherhood in our society.Through their participation in the Scouts and Guides Movement, they would also realise their own intellectual, physical and spiritual potential," he said.

"While we speak of inclusive growth, it is the leaders at the grassroots who would be the agents of change," he said while expressing his confidence that the Scouts and Guides Movement would effectively provide the leadership at the bottom of the pyramid.