On March 8, on the occasion of International Women’s Day, 29 Nari Shakti Puraskar winners received awards from President of India, Ram Nath Kovind.
The annual awards presented by the Ministry of Women and Child Development for 2020 and 2021 recognized women for their exemplary work across fields like medicine, arts and crafts, organic farming, etc. Women and institutions are honored for their relentless service towards the cause of women’s empowerment and social welfare. They also celebrate women as game changers and catalysts of positive change in society.
According to news reports, Kashmir-based innovator Naseera Akhtar who came up with biodegradable plastic, Tamil Nadu’s shawl artists Jaya Muthu and Tejamma, and Dr. Ela Lodh, obstetrician and gynecologist from Tripura (posthumous), were among the 14 awardees for 2020. 2021 awardees included mathematician Neena Gupta, Arunachal Pradesh-based winemaker Rage Rita Takhe, Chhattisgarh’s Madhulika Ramteke, who started a women’s banking cooperative with 5,372 branches, and folk artiste Batool Begum
“The winners of the Nari Shakti Puraskar for the year 2020 are from fields as diverse as entrepreneurship, agriculture, innovation, social work, arts and crafts, STEMM, wildlife conservation, etc. The winners of the Nari Shakti Puraskar for the year 2021 are from the fields of linguistics, entrepreneurship, agriculture, social work, arts and crafts, Merchant Navy, STEMM, education and literature, disability rights, etc.” said a government release.
A day before the awards, Prime Minister Narendra Modi interacted with the winners. He lauded their contribution, saying that their work had the spirit of service and innovation.
The awards were not held last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
