President presents Nari Shakti Puraskars to 29 achievers

President Ram Nath Kovind conferred the Nari Shakti Puraskar 2020 and 2021 at a special ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan on occasion of International Women’s Day Tuesday, March 8. The award was conferred on 29 outstanding and exceptional women achievers in recognition of their exceptional work towards empowerment of women, especially the vulnerable and marginalised. The Ministry of Women and Child Development confers Nari Shakti Puraskar on women and institutions in recognition of their relentless service towards the cause of women empowerment and social welfare, and to celebrate women as game changers and catalysts of positive change in the society. The award ceremony for the year 2020 could not be held in 2021 due to the prevalent situation created by COVID-19 pandemic. 

The ministry of women and child development begins ‘Kanya Shiksha Pravesh Utsav’- “Launched under Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, special awareness drives would be conducted to sensitise family members. Anganwadi workers will also be incentivised to counsel & refer out of school adolescent girls. Ministry of WCD will surely fulfil its resolve of bringing over 4 lakh girls back to school.”  Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called ‘Kanya Shiksha Pravesh Utsav Abhiyan’ “an exemplary effort which will ensure more girls get the joys of education”. He also asked for efforts to make the movement a success. The campaign is a mission to ensure every young girl is allowed to pursue education and skilling.

Women and Child Development Minister Smriti Irani has said that one of the greatest challenges for women in the police force is that they cannot afford to look weak, not to the society and not to the establishment.Addressing International Women's Day event organised by Bureau of Police Research and Development BPR&D in New Delhi, Ms Irani said, women police personnel are always dedicated to protect other women in the society, but when they face some challenges themself, they do not describe it. She said, there is Creche for the children of other working women in the society but not for women police personnel. The Minister suggested that Ministry of Women and Child Development would like to arrange a special Creche for the children of women police personnel at the district level. She also proposed counselling of women police personnel throughout the country by her Ministry in collaboration with BPR&D and NIMHANS. The Minister said, when a woman undertakes a responsibility, she does not rest till it is completed.