President Pranab Mukherjee’s period in the highest constitutional office of the country comes to an end on 25th July 2017 and his successor Ram Nath Kovind will take over as the new President of India. On 23rd Parliament organised a farewell ceremony for the outgoing president in the Central Hall which was addressed by the Speaker of Lok Sabha Sumitra Mahajan. The programme which started on Friday evening was addressed by the vice-president and chairman of the Rajya Sabha, Hamid Ansari also. The outgoing President became a bit nostalgic in his speech.
Mr. Pranab Mukherjee will be shifting to his new residence at 10 Rajaji Road. The eight-room, two-storey villa had earlier hosted APJ Abdul Kalam and is not a place strange to former presidents. The villa spread over a magnanimous 11,776 sq feet and has already being painted and modified for the new occupant. The existing furniture has been replaced and the entrance and exit gates are waiting for the nameplates of the new occupant. The officials of the ministry of Urban Development informed that they are not overcrowding the place with furniture and keeping it simple. A large space of 10, Rajaji Road is being turned into a library because Mukherjee will be carrying all his personal books to his new address and the outgoing president is an avid reader.
Mukherjee will be moving out of the expansive presidential palace in Raisina Hill to his new house today when the new president is ceremonially welcomed to his new home. Ram Nath Kovind, the new President of India will escort the outgoing president Pranab Kumar Mukherjee to his new home. As a former president, Mukherjee is eligible for pension of Rs.75, 000 per month which is 50% of that while in office. His perks include two telephones, one mobile phone and car for free. As per the President Emoluments Act, he can access secretarial staff and office expenses of up to Rs. 60,000. The former president is also eligible for free medical attendance and treatment and also travel anywhere in India, accompanied by one person, in the highest class in any mode of travel. President Emolument Act of 1951 allows a retired president to avail facilities like rent-free Type VIII accommodation anywhere in India, with free water and electricity apart from the landline, mobile phones and medical amenities. He can have five personal staffers at his disposal, including a private secretary, personal assistant and two peons. The security of the outgoing president will be handed over to the Delhi Police.
