President confers Nari Shakti Puraskars on 29 women

 

 

ON INTERNATIONAL Women’s Day on Tuesday, President Ram Nath Kovind conferred the Nari Shakti Puraskars on 29 outstanding individuals for 2020 and 2021. Twenty-eight awards -- 14 each for 2020 and 2021 -- were given to the women in recognition of their exceptional work towards women empowerment, especially the vulnerable and marginalised. The ‘Nari Shakti Puraskar’ is a Women and Child Development Ministry initiative to acknowledge exceptional contribution made by individuals and institutions, and to celebrate women as game-changers and catalysts of positive change in society. Its recipients are from fields such as entrepreneurship, agriculture, innovation, social work, education and literature, linguistics, arts and crafts, STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics), disability rights, merchant navy and wildlife conservation.

 

The latest awardees include social entrepreneur Anita Gupta, organic farmer and tribal activist Ushaben Dineshbhai Vasava, innovator Nasira Akhter, Intel-India head Nivruti Rai, down syndrome affected Kathak Dancer Saylee Nandkishor Agavane, first woman snake rescuer Vanita Jagdeo Borade and mathematician Neena Gupta. Borade, who founded ‘Soyre Vanchare Multipurpose Foundation’ for nature and wildlife protection and promoting pollution-free environment, has rescued and released over 50,000 snakes to their natural habitat. She also conducted snake awareness programmes that included topics such as first aid for snake bite victims, safety considerations, among others. She is known as “Sarp-Mitra” (snake friend) and the Indian postal department honoured her by releasing a postal stamp. Down syndrome affected Kathak Dancer Saylee Nandkishor Agavane has performed in more than 100 events. At the Global Olympiad Dance competition, she received a Bronze medal.

 

She has been awarded for promoting Indian classical dance internationally despite facing hardship. Visually-challenged social activist Tiffany Brar was awarded for her exemplary work for visually-impaired rural women. Organic farmer Ushaben Dineshbhai Vasava was awarded for her outstanding contribution in organic farming and assistance in educating women farmers at the ground level. Nivruti Rai, Country Head, Intel India has been awarded for excellence in the field of technology, truly representing the 21st century women and empowering students to build Artifical Intelligence enabled Hi-Tech future for India. Shobha Gasti, who started Mahilla Abhivrudhi Mattu Samrakshana Samasthe (MASS) that works in 360 villages across three talukas in Belgaum, Karnataka, has been awarded for her exemplary contribution for the cause of empowerment of women and girls.

 

The next awardee is Tage Rita Takhe, an entrepreneur who produces ‘Naara Aalba’, India’s first organic kiwi wine, with an annual capacity of approximately 60,000 litres and a turnover of Rs 4.5 crore. An engineer by qualification, she left her job to become an entrepreneur. She founded ‘Lambu Subu Food and Beverages’, Naara-Aaba “wine’ in 2016 in Lower Subansiri, Arunachal Pradesh. She was also awarded the United Nations Women Transforming India Award. The ‘Nari Shakti Puraskar’ is given to her for excellence in promoting women entrepreneurship and local product internationally. The ‘Nari Shakti Puraskar’ is an initiative of the Ministry of Women and Child Development to acknowledge the exceptional contribution made by individuals and institutions, and celebrate women as game-changers and catalysts of positive change in society.