President of India Presents Nari Shakti Puraskar

Speed Post News Network

New Delhi : The President of India Ram Nath Kovind  presented Nari Shakti Puraskar for 2019 on the occasion of International Women’s Day at a function held at Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Centre (RBCC) on March 8, 2020. The awards were conferred on 15 eminent women in recognition of their efforts in rendering distinguished services towards emancipation of women, especially vulnerable and marginalised women. Nari Shakti Puraskar awardee from Kollam, Alappuzha, Kerala, Bhageerathi Amma, could not travel to Delhi to receive the award.

These achievers have not allowed age, geographical barriers or access to resources to come in the way of fulfilling their dreams. Their indomitable spirit will inspire the society at large and the young Indian minds in particular to break gender stereotypes, and stand up against gender inequality and discrimination.

The Nari Shakti Puraskar, instituted by the Ministry of Women and Child Development, are “National Award in recognition of exceptional work for women empowerment” conferred every year on March 8 as a mark of respect and recognition to those who have demonstrated exemplary courage and stellar contribution towards empowerment of women.

Before the award presentation ceremony, a special screening of ‘Swachh Bharat – India’s Sanitation Story’ was held at RBCC for the audience. This short film showcases the massive behaviour change that occurred across rural India under the Swachh Bharat Mission and the role that women played in leading over 55 crore people to shun the age-old practice of open defecation, according to a PIB release.

The awardees include Mann Kaur, 103, Athletic, World’s fastest centenarian in 2016, Patliala, Punjab; Tashi & Nungshi Malik, 28, first female twins to scale Mt. Everesr in 2013; Avani Chaturvedi, Bhawanna Kanth and  Mohana Singh Jitarwal ( IAF’s first women fighter pilots); Bhageerathi Amma (105) and Karthyayini Amma (98), Kerala; Chami Mummu ( 47), environmentalist, Jharkhand;  Arifa Jan, 33, Handicrafts, Srinagar, J&K; Bina Devi, 43, also known as Mushroom Mahila for Mushroom cultivation, Munger, Bihar; Nilza Wangmo, 40, entrepreneur, Leh, Ladakh;