Kottayam, Thursday, August 12, 2010: President Pratibha Devisingh Patil would arrive here on August 12 on her maiden as part of her three-day State wide tour to participate in various programmes. She would be arriving at Kochi and later proceed to Bharanganam, to inaugurate the valedictory function of the Birth Centenary celebrations of St. Alphonsa, the first woman saint of the Catholic Church in the country.

In Bharananganam, she would also lay the foundation stone for St.Alphonsa Palliative Care Centre and launch a financial assistance scheme for needy and poor patients suffering from cardiac, kidney and cancer problems, they said. The function would be presided over by Governor R S Gavai.

After the function she would return to Kumarakom for an overnight stay, official sources here said. On August 13 morning, she would fly from here to Thiruvananthapuram to participate in various programmes. The President would later on the day return to Kumarakom for an evening cruise in the Vembanad backwaters.

As per the schedule, she would reach Alappuzha in a helicopter on Aug 14 morning to inaugurate the Nehru Trophy Boat race