Focus: GS-II Social Justice, Women Empowerment, Prelims
Why in news?
A mason, a centenarian athlete, Jharkhand’s “Lady Tarzan” and a “mushroom mahila” were among the 15 women awarded the Nari Shakti Puraskar by President Ram Nath Kovind, on 8th March 2020, on account of International Women’s Day.
The government gives away the awards every year to recognise the service of women towards the cause of women’s empowerment and social welfare.
Nari Shakti Puraskar
- Nari Shakti Puraskar (formerly Stree Shakti Puraskar), literally meaning “Woman Power Award”, is India’s highest civilian award for recognising the achievements and contributions of women.
- The awards are given away by the President of India every year on 8 March, International Women’s Day at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi.
- The Nari Shakti Puraskar is conferred on individual women, public and private institutions and public departments for their activism and/ or their contributions to the cause of women’s empowerment.
- The award, instituted in the year 1999 by the Ministry of Women and Child Development, Government of India, is given in six institutional categories and two individual categories.
