The Nari Shakti Puraskar (lit.'Woman Power Award') is an annual award given by the Ministry of Women and Child Development of the Government of India to individual women or to institutions that work towards the cause of women empowerment.[1] It is the highest civilian honour for women in India, and is presented by the president of India on International Women's Day (8 March) at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi. The award was instituted in 1999 under the title of Stree Shakti Puraskar (lit.'Woman Power Award'), renamed and reorganised in 2015. It is awarded in six institutional and two individual categories, which carry a cash prize of 200,000 and 100,000 rupees, respectively.[1][2]
Categories
Then President of India, Pranab Mukherjee bestowing the 2012 Rani Lakshmibai Stree Shakti Puraskar posthumously on 2012 Delhi gang rape victim, Nirbhaya.[3][4]
The Nari Shakti Puraskar is given in six institutional categories and two categories for individual women.[1]
Institutional categories
Each of the six institutional categories is named after an eminent woman in Indian history.[1]
Devi Ahilya Bai Holkar Award for best private sector organization or public sector undertaking in promoting the well-being and welfare of women. Named after Ahilyabai Holkar, an 18th-century ruler of the Malwa kingdom.
Kannagi Devi Award for best state which has appreciably improved Child Sex Ratio (CSR). Named after Kannagi, the central character of the Tamil epic Silapathikaram.
Mata Jijabai Award for best urban local body for providing services and facilities to women. Named after Mata Jijabai, mother of Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, who founded the Maratha Empire in the 17th century.
Rani Gaidinliu Zeliang Award given to a civil society organisation (CSO) doing outstanding work for the welfare and well-being of women. Named after Rani Gaidinliu, a 20th-century Naga spiritual and political leader
Rani Lakshmi Bai Award given to the best institution for research and development in the field of women empowerment. Named after Lakshmibai, one of the leading figures of the Indian Rebellion of 1857 and a queen of Jhansi.
Awards for making outstanding contributions to women’s endeavour, community work, or making a difference, or women's empowerment
History
Stree Shakti Puraskar, the predecessor of the Nari Shakti Puraskar, was instituted in the year 1999.[5] It carried a cash prize of ₹100,000 and a citation. The Stree Shakti Puraskar was given in the same six categories as the Nari Shakti Award.[6][7]
Kannagi Stree Shakti Puraskar awarded to K. V. Rabiya of Malappuram district, Kerala for her efforts to promote the education of children with physical and/or mental disabilities[8]
Mata Jijabai Stree Shakti Puraskar awarded to Chinna Pillai of Madurai, Tamil Nadu for her efforts towards initiating and spreading the microcredit movement and changing the lives of women living in poverty.[9]
Devi Ahilyabai Holkar Stree Shakti Puraskar awarded to Brahmacharini Kamala Bai of Nagaur district, Rajasthan for establishing schools for girls[10]
Rani Rudramma Devi Award to Rakhee Gupta Bhandari from Delhi
2012 recipients
The 2012 Stree Shakti Puraskar was awarded to five women. In addition, the Rani Lakshmi Bai Award was posthumously dedicated to the "Spirit of Nirbhaya".[21]
Kannagi Award to Guramma H. Sankina from Karnataka
Mata Jijabai Award to Sonika Agarwal from Delhi
Devi Ahilya Bai Holkar Award to Olga D’mello of Maharashtra
Rani Gaidinliu Zeliang Award to Omana T.K from Kerala
The President of India, Ram Nath Kovind gave away the Nari Shakti Puraskar to 44 recipients, which includes 3 institutions.[32][33] The award function was held on 8 March 2019. The awardees (in alphabetical order) are:[25]
A. Seema (Scientist, Centre for Material for Electronics Technology [CMET]) – Developed low cost technology for early detection and screening of breast cancer
Anshu Khanna – Empowered women craftspersons through her project "Royal Fables"
Anu Malhotra (Filmmaker) – Transformed the lives of people through her thought provoking films
Anuradha N. Naik – Contributed in developing the skills of tribal women to cultivate and conserve local chilli variety in Goa
Darshana Gupta – Touched the lives of 3500 women by initiating mass marriages of those belonging to less privileged backgrounds
Devaki Amma – An environmentalist who protected biodiversity by growing rare trees on her land in Kerala
Delia Narayan Contractor (Self-taught architect) – Designed eco-friendly sustainable houses with mud and stone inspired from local traditions
Gowri Kamakashi – Instrumental contribution in uplifting lives through her philanthropic interventions in healthcare
Hekani Jakhalu Kense of YouthNet – Empowered women, unemployed and drop-out youth to develop skills and find livelihood
Ipsita Biswas (Scientist, DRDO) – Crucial contribution in performance evaluation of armour material and life-saving devices like bullet-proof jackets for our armed and paramilitary forces
Iti Tyagi – Contributed in conserving crafts culture by setting up a platform wherein artisans get a chance to connect with consumers, industry and patrons. The platform offers learning and sharing
Kagganapalli Radha Devi – Instrumental in breaking traditional notions of gender and employing many female barbers in Tirupathi temple to tonsure the hair of women devotees.
Kalpana Saroj – Revives a shut-down industrial unit. Provided employment to poor masses and women. Born in an underprivileged family, she is now a globally recognised business woman.
Madhuri Barthwal – First Garhwali female musician; dedicated her life towards folk music and its preservation
Manju Manikuttan – A committed social worker, she has helped numerous Indian wo in Saudi Arabia who migrate for work and face foreign land issues
Meenakshi Pahuja – An International level swimmer, She has played an instrumental role in the lives of young women and students with different abilities keeping an interest in swimming
Mini Vasudevan – A passionate animal activist who has sensitised the public and relentlessly worked on various aspects of animal welfare and environmental sustainability
Munuswamy Shanthi (Scientist, Satish Dhwan Space Center)
Neelum Sharma – A senior correspondent at DD News & a filmmaker. Her strong advocacy of the marginalised section is reflected in several documentaries directed by her
Nomita Kamdar – An entrepreneur who has played a key role in bringing public awareness about environmental issues through adventure sports and eco-tourism, thereby restoring the natural harmony in the Western Ghats
Pamela Chatterjee – She has dedicated her life to the restoration of barren lands, uncultivable sodic soils and water conservation projects. She has supported numerous farmers through her work
Pragya Prasun – An activist and social worker who survived an acid attack and now provides relief and rehabilitation to such survivors to enable them to thrive in life
Priyamvada Singh – An entrepreneur who has created employment opportunities for villagers by restoring her 148 year old ancestral fort and developing it as a community-run home stay
Pushpa Preeya – An exam scribe who has been writing exams for specially-enabled persons from the past 10 years and aims to contribute in their lives and careers
Rahibai Soma Popere – Fondly known as "Seed Mother", she has conserved native seeds of several crops and prevented the exploitation of distressed farmers in Maharashtra
Rajani Rajak – Iconic folk singer of Dhola Maru art form of Chhattisgarh, she has relentlessly worked to keep this art form alive through her performances
Rhea Mazumdar Singhal – An entrepreneur building a sustainable environment by using agri-waste to make biodegradable food packaging
Ruma Devi – Herself an artisan, she has empowered craftspersons by forming self-help groups, eliminating the middleman and bringing better profits to them. She works with over 11000 artisans as of now
Seema Kaushik Mehta – A Kathak artiste who is inspiring the next generation of artists by teaching them Kathak
Seema Rao – First and only woman commando trainer in India. She has trained over 15000 soldiers from Indian Army, Navy, Air, Paramilitary Police, NSG, ITBP, SVP, NPA Commando Wing SFF & Para Special Forces free of cost. She, along with her husband invented an indigenous method of reflex shooting, which is known as the Rao System of Reflex Fire which has benefited the Indian Army.
Sister Shivani (Motivational speaker and teacher) – Her seminars and television programmes on human behaviour have transformed the millions of lives
Smriti Morarka – Initiated "Tantuvi"[34] to revive the weaving traditions of Benaras. She provides a platform to the young generation to take up weaving
Snehlata Nath (Founder of Keystone Foundation) She has dedicated 26 years of her life to creating a harmonious balance between nature, humans and technology
Sonia Jabbar (Tea planter & wildlife conservationist) – She founded the Haathi Saathi Nature Club for children and also established an elephant friendly tea estate
Sujatha Mohan – She has spread awareness of the importance of eye donation, and provided essential eyecare services to the rural and poor population in Chennai
Sunita Devi – Working on the issue of women's health and sanitation, she is a Rani Mistri (Master Trainer) under the Swacch Bharat Mission
Twinkle Kalia – Provides free ambulance service for the needy in New Delhi
Urmi Basu – By forming the "New Light" organisation, she has been instrumental in changing lives of the children of sex workers in Kolkata's red-light area
The Social Welfare and Nutritional Meal Programme Department, Tamil Nadu (Institutional Awardee)
2019 recipients
The President of India, Ram Nath Kovind gave away the Nari Shakti Puraskar to fifteen women achievers.[35][36] The award function was held on 9 March 2020. List of the awardees:[37][38]
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