33 women to be awarded ‘Nari Shakti Puraskaar’ by President on occasion of International Women’s Day
Loco pilot Mumtaz Kazi – one of the recipients of ‘Nari Shakti Puraskaar’
On the occasion of International Women’s Day, President Pranab Mukherjee will award the ‘Nari Shakti Puraskaar’ to eminent women and institutions in recognition of their service towards the cause of women empowerment.
Union Women and Child Development (WCD) Ministry has shortlisted 33 women and female centric institutions, who will be awarded the ‘Nari Shakti Puraskaar’ at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi today.
The list of recipients include:
* Scientists Subha Varier, B Codanayaguy and Anatta Sonney, who played a major role in ISRO’s launch of a record 104 satellites last month.
* Loco pilot Mumtaz Kazi, who at 20 became the first women in Asia to drive a diesel train – the Deccan Queen from Pune to Mumbai.
* Conservationist Pamela Malhotra, who converted a 300-acre barren land into India’s first private wildlife sanctuary and has dedicated her life to preserving the flora and fauna.
* Motorcyclist Pallavi Fauzdar, who raised awareness about malnutrition in children and female foeticide though her bike rides in terrains like Leh, Ladakh and Kashmir.
* Activist Anoyara Khatun, who has helped over 200 girls pursue education and saved more than 100 girls from either child marriage or trafficking.
* Sadhana Mahila Sangha, which has been working for the welfare sex workers by providing them scholarships and conducting health check-ups.
* Chhanv Foundation, which runs ‘Sheroes Cafe’ that hires acid attack survivors.
“This time, the ministry is giving these awards to women, mostly belonging to the marginalised and vulnerable sections, who are working for the society at many levels,” a senior WCD ministry official told Mail Today.
President’s Message
In his message on International Women’s Day, President Mukherjee said generations of Indian women have made an invaluable contribution to the development and progress of the country.
“With their incomparable compassion, tolerance and hardwork, generations of Indian women have made an invaluable contribution to the development and progress of our country. Government of India has introduced and implemented historic legislations and far-sighted programmes for their empowerment and equal participation in nation building,” he said in a statement issued on the eve of the international Women’s Day.
He also lauded ‘Beti Bachao Beti Padhao’ campaign, which is an important initiative to prevent female foeticide.
“Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao is an important initiative to prevent female foeticide and provide educational opportunities for female children in India,” the statement read.
President Mukherjee also called upon the people to reaffirm their commitment to gender equality and the true empowerment of women.
“On this day, I call upon the people of India to reaffirm their commitment to gender equality and the true empowerment of women. Let us rededicate our efforts to give them all the support they need to develop to their full potential,” he said
The Defence Ministry will organise the awareness programme on the problem of anaemia on the occasion. The Sports and Youth Affairs Ministry is also organizing a conference on Women and Sports in India.
