Anna Hazare celebrates 75th birthday with underprivileged kids

Social activist Anna Hazare on Friday celebrated his 75th birthday with hundreds of children at a rehabilitation centre in Ahmednagar, around 40 km from his hometown Ralegan Siddhi

Hazare's associates said he preferred not to have elaborate celebrations for his birthday owing to the drought in Maharashtra.

Hazare spent time with children of Snehalaya, an NGO that runs a rehabilitation centre for HIV-positive patients, the activist's close aide Suresh Pathare told IANS.

Hazare also laid the foundation stone of an English-medium school in Ahmednagar.

Hazare had earlier told reporters that he wanted to celebrate his 75th birthday without any fanfare.

"However, he accepted the invitation from Snehalaya as it is for a social cause," Pathare said.

The NGO also runs rehabilitation projects for prostitutes and their children, orphans and other underprivileged children.

The proposed school will provide free education to underprivileged and differently-abled children.

The NGO also organised an 'Amrut Mahotsav' ceremony in honour of Hazare.

Several other NGOs from the Ahmednagar district also jointly distributed one lakh books about Hazare's life and his message to the youth.