INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY - WEEKLY CELEBRATION

International Women’s Day:President of India Shrimati Pratibha Devisingh Patil Gives away Stree Shakti Puraskar 2011 in New Delhi

The President of India, Smt. Pratibha Devising Patil has appealed to the women of the country to come forward yet to greater extent and participate actively in the development processes. She has lauded the women’s increasing contribution in the societal progress on all fronts. However, she lamented on the low child sex ratio which is at 914. The President, Smt. Patil was speaking on the occasion of International Womens Day celebrations at Vigyan Bhawan in the national capital. Smt. Patil gave away Stree Shakti Puraskar 2011 to 6 women who immensely contributed in the social educational and economical upliftment of women in various sectors. Ms. Hypno Padma Kamlakar (Andhra Pradesh) was awarded Devi Ahilyabai Holkar Award. Ms. Hypno Padma has done her post graduation in sociology. She became the first women Hypnotist and psychologist to practice counselling and has conducted more than 1500 programmes across the country. Ms. Kanwaljit Kaur (Chandigarh) was given Kannagi Award for providing hope, guidance and counselling to blind girls. Ms. Jagmati Malik (Haryana) was given Mata Jijabai Award for women empowerment by organising self help groups on various issues including Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, MGNREGA, female foeticide, total sanitation and Right to Information. Ms. Draupadi Ghimiray (Sikkim) was conferred Rani Gaidinliu Zeliang Award for working for children with disability. Ms. Sandhya Pandey (Chhattisgarh) was conferred Rani Laxmibai Award for boldly facing enormous adversities in life after losing her eyesight in 1999. Ms. Rakhee Gupta Bhandari (New Delhi) was conferred Rani Rudramma Devi Award for outstanding contribution in getting women in the mainstream by encouraging women Sarpanches to appear in public offices. Speaking on the occasion the Minister of State (I/C) Smt. Krishna Tirath expressed satisfaction at the progress of various ongoing schemes for the welfare of women. She said that the “Sabla” scheme for adolescent girls has been yielding good results and making the so called “Abla(weak)” woman now “Sabla(strong)” . Sm. Tirath said that in 56 government departments the gender budgeting cells have been established.The Minister appealed to all section of the society to popularise the schemes more specifically in the semi-urban and rural areas. Smt. Neela Gangadharan, Secretary, Women and Child Development and Shri Sudhir Kumar, Addl. Secretary (WCD) were also present on the occasion in addition to several officials and NGO representatives, women activists etc. DK/AS (Release ID :80732)