President presents Nari Shakti Puraskar

Speed Post News Network

New Delhi : The President of India Ram Nath Kovind presented the Nari Shakti Puraskar at a function held at Rashtrapati Bhavan on March 8, 2018, on the occasion of International Women’s Day. The awards were conferred on 30 eminent individuals and 9 distinguished institutions in recognition of their efforts in rendering distinguished services for the cause of women, especially vulnerable and marginalized women.

Speaking on the occasion, the President said discriminating between men and women is essentially a problem of mindsets in society. To ensure composite development of the country, it is necessary to remove such discrimination. Every person in society is responsible for changing such mindsets. “We should listen to voices of our daughters and provide them all opportunities to make the most of their lives. We should change customs and traditions that hinder giving equal rights to our daughters,” the President said.

The President said that awareness and education are effective tools to overcome gender inequality. Education provides the power and understanding to eradicate distinctions between people in society, he said, according to a PIB release.

Speaking on the occasion, Minister for Women & Child Development, Maneka Sanjay Gandhi said that the Government is working relentlessly for the empowerment of  women. Outlining the initiatives of the Ministry of Women & Child Development, the Minister said that women’s safety is one of the top most priorities of the Government and the Ministry is working to ensure the security of women at public spaces, at their work places, within their homes and even online. The Minister also added that about 200 one stop centres for single window services to women facing violence have been set up across the country, which have already assisted about one lakh women.

This year the winners of the Narishakti puraskar are from fields as diverse as sports, social work, science, art, agriculture, education, conservation, security, handicrafts and defence. The list of the winners included : Ambica Beri, Dr Anita Bhardwaj, Anuradha Krishnamoorthy and Ms.Namrata Sundaresan,Dr. Bharti Kashyap, Dr C K Durga, Chirom Indira, Deepika Kundaji, Gargi Gupta, Gauri Maulekhi, Justice Gita Mittal, Jayamma Bandari, Jetsun Pema, K Syamalakumari, Dr Lizymol Philipose Pamadykandathil, Dr M S Sunil, Madhu Jain, Dr Malvika Iyer, Mehvish Mushtaq, Mittal Patel, Purnima Barman, Pushpa Girimaji, Rekha Mishra, Revanna Umadevi Nagraj, Dr S Siva Sathya,Sabarmatee, Sheela Balaji, Dr Sindhutai Sapkal, Thinlas Chorol, and Urmila Balawant Apte.