Ram Nath Kovind was sworn in as India's president on Tuesday, becoming just the second leader from the oppressed Dalit community to be elected head of state.
A former lawyer and state governor, Mr Kovind was elected to the largely ceremonial position last week with more than 65 per cent of the vote by members of India's parliament and state assemblies.
Mr Kovind, accompanied by his wife, paid respects early on Tuesday at a memorial dedicated to India's independence hero Mahatma Gandhi in New Delhi.
"I grew up in a mud house, in a small village. My journey has been a long one, and yet this journey is hardly mine alone. It is so telling of our nation and our society also," Mr Kovind said after taking the oath of office in parliament.
"For all its problems, it (the nation) follows that basic mantra given to us in the preamble of the constitution — of ensuring justice, liberty, equality and fraternity, and I will always continue to follow this basic mantra."
The 71-year-old was nominated by the ruling right-wing Bharatiya Janata Party in a move analysts say would help prime minister Narendra Modi tighten his grip on power and gain political capital ahead of his re-election bid in 2019.
Mr Kovind has said he will use his position to improve the lot of Dalits, a marginalised 200-million strong community once known as "untouchables" and ranked among India's poorest.
"Our diversity is the core that makes us so unique … We are so different yet so similar and united," Mr Kovind said.
India's prime minister wields executive power, but the president can send back some parliamentary bills for reconsideration and also plays a guiding role in the process of forming governments.
Mr Kovind is the second Dalit president after KR Narayan, who held the post for five years from 1997.
The rules on fostering in the UAE
A foster couple or family must:
- be Muslim, Emirati and be residing in the UAE
- not be younger than 25 years old
- not have been convicted of offences or crimes involving moral turpitude
- be free of infectious diseases or psychological and mental disorders
- have the ability to support its members and the foster child financially
- undertake to treat and raise the child in a proper manner and take care of his or her health and well-being
- A single, divorced or widowed Muslim Emirati female, residing in the UAE may apply to foster a child if she is at least 30 years old and able to support the child financially
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