Nari Shakti Puraskars, International Women Day

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Context: The President awarded Nari Shakti Puraskars on International Women’s Day,

Details:

• The President of India awarded 29 individuals with Nari Shakti Puruskar for the years 2020 and 2021 at a special ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi on 8th March, 2022.
  • The award ceremony for the year 2020 could not be held in 2021 due to the prevalent situation created by COVID-19 pandemic.
• Awards (14 each for the year 2020 and 2021) presented to 29 individuals in recognition of their exceptional work in rendering distinguished services towards empowerment of women, especially vulnerable and marginalized women.

Nari Shakti Puraskar:

• Nari Shakti Puraskar is the highest civilian honor for women in India.
• It is an annual award given by the Ministry of Women and Child Development to individual women or to institutions that work for women empowerment.
• The awards are presented by the President of India on International Women's Day (8 March), at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi.
• The awards were instituted in 1999 under the title of Stree Shakti Puraskar and were renamed and reorganized in 2015.
• The Nari Shakti Puraskar is given in 6 institutional categories and 2 categories for individual women.
• 6 Institutional categories
  • 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 Shivaji, who founded the Maratha Empire in the 17th century.
  • Rani Gaidinliu Zeliang Award given to a civil society organization (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.
  • Rani Rudramma Devi Awards given to two District Panchayats and two Gram Panchayats for work in the area of women welfare especially related to the Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao Yojana. Named after Rudrama Devi, a 13th-century ruler of Deccan Plateau.
• 2 Individual categories
  • Award for courage and bravery.
  • Awards for making outstanding contributions to women empowerment.

About International Women's day:

• The idea for an International Women's day arose around the turn of the 20th century out of a long-standing movement for women to participate equally in society.
• The first International Women's Day was observed on March 19, 1911 in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland. That day, more than one million women and men showed their support by participating in public events.
• Over time, International Women's Day has grown to become a global day of recognition and celebration.
• It was expanded by the United Nations in 1975 with the International Women's Year.
• By 1977, the United Nations had adopted a resolution designating March 8 as International Women's Day.

https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1803480