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The Nari Shakti Puraskar is an annual award given by the Ministry of Women and Child Development of the
Government of India The Government of India ( ISO: ; often abbreviated as GoI), known as the Union Government or Central Government but often simply as the Centre, is the national government of the Republic of India, a federal democracy located in South Asia, ...
to individual women or to institutions that work towards the cause of women empowerment. It is the highest civilian honour for women in India, and is presented by the
president of India The president of India ( IAST: ) is the head of state of the Republic of India. The president is the nominal head of the executive, the first citizen of the country, as well as the commander-in-chief of the Indian Armed Forces. Droupadi Mur ...
on
International Women's Day International Women's Day (IWD) is a global holiday list of minor secular observances#March, celebrated annually on March 8 as a focal point in the women's rights, women's rights movement, bringing attention to issues such as gender equality, ...
(8 March) at
Rashtrapati Bhavan The Rashtrapati Bhavan (, rāsh-truh-puh-ti bha-vun; ; originally Viceroy's House and later Government House) is the official residence of the President of India at the western end of Rajpath, Raisina Hill, New Delhi, India. Rashtrapati Bh ...
in
New Delhi New Delhi (, , ''Naī Dillī'') is the Capital city, capital of India and a part of the NCT Delhi, National Capital Territory of Delhi (NCT). New Delhi is the seat of all three branches of the government of India, hosting the Rashtrapati B ...
. The award was instituted in 1999 under the title of Stree Shakti Puraskar, renamed and reorganised in 2015. It is awarded in six institutional and two individual categories, which carry a cash prize of 200,000 and 100,000
rupees Rupee is the common name for the currencies of India, Mauritius, Nepal, Pakistan, Seychelles, and Sri Lanka, and of former currencies of Afghanistan, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, the United Arab Emirates (as the Gulf rupee), British East Africa, ...
, respectively.


Categories

The Nari Shakti Puraskar is given in six institutional categories and two categories for individual women.


Institutional categories

Each of the six institutional categories is named after an eminent woman in
Indian history According to consensus in modern genetics, anatomically modern humans first arrived on the Indian subcontinent from Africa between 73,000 and 55,000 years ago. Quote: "Y-Chromosome and Mt-DNA data support the colonization of South Asia by ...
. * Devi Ahilya Bai Holkar Award for best private sector organization or
public sector undertaking A state-owned enterprise (SOE) is a government entity which is established or nationalised by the ''national government'' or ''provincial government'' by an executive order or an act of legislation in order to earn profit for the governmen ...
in promoting the well-being and welfare of women. Named after
Ahilyabai Holkar Ahilya Bai Holkar (31 May 1725 – 13 August 1795) was the hereditary noble queen of the Maratha Empire, in early-modern India. She established Maheshwar (in Madhya Pradesh) as the seat of Holkar Dynasty. After the demise of her husband Khan ...
, an 18th-century ruler of the
Malwa Malwa is a historical region, historical list of regions in India, region of west-central India occupying a plateau of volcanic origin. Geologically, the Malwa Plateau generally refers to the volcanic plateau, volcanic upland north of the Vind ...
kingdom. * Kannagi Devi Award for best state which has appreciably improved Child Sex Ratio (CSR). Named after
Kannagi Kannagi ( ta, கண்ணகி) sometimes spelled Kannaki, is a legendary Tamil woman who forms the central character of the Tamil epic '' Cilappatikaram''. Kannagi is described as the chaste woman who stays with her husband despite his unfa ...
, the central character of the Tamil epic
Silapathikaram ''Cilappatikāram'' ( ta, சிலப்பதிகாரம் ml, ചിലപ്പതികാരം,IPA: ʧiləppət̪ikɑːrəm, ''lit.'' "the Tale of an Anklet"), also referred to as ''Silappathikaram'' or ''Silappatikaram'', is the e ...
. * Mata Jijabai Award for best urban local body for providing services and facilities to women. Named after Mata Jijabai, mother of
Shivaji Shivaji Bhonsale I (; 19 February 1630 – 3 April 1680), also referred to as Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, was an Indian ruler and a member of the Bhonsle Maratha clan. Shivaji carved out his own independent kingdom from the declining Adi ...
, who founded the
Maratha Empire The Maratha Empire, also referred to as the Maratha Confederacy, was an early modern Indian confederation that came to dominate much of the Indian subcontinent in the 18th century. Maratha rule formally began in 1674 with the coronation of S ...
in the 17th century. * Rani Gaidinliu Zeliang Award given to a civil society organisation (CSO) doing outstanding work for the welfare and well-being of women. Named after
Rani Gaidinliu Gaidinliu Pamei (26 January 1915 – 17 February 1993) popularly known as Rani Gaidinliu was a Naga spiritual and political leader who led a revolt against British rule in India. At the age of 13, she joined the Heraka religious movement of her ...
, 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 Lakshmibai, the Rani of Jhansi (; 19 November 1828 — 18 June 1858),Though the day of the month is regarded as certain historians disagree about the year: among those suggested are 1827 and 1835. was an Indian queen, the Maharani consort of ...
, one of the leading figures of the
Indian Rebellion of 1857 The Indian Rebellion of 1857 was a major uprising in India in 1857–58 against the rule of the British East India Company, which functioned as a sovereign power on behalf of the British Crown. The rebellion began on 10 May 1857 in the fo ...
and a queen of
Jhansi Jhansi (; Hindi: झांसी, Urdu: ) is a historic city in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It lies in the region of Bundelkhand on the banks of the Pahuj River, in the extreme south of Uttar Pradesh. Jhansi is the administrative ...
. * 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 Rudrama Devi, also Maharani Rudramma Devi, was a queen of the Kakatiya dynasty in the Deccan Plateau from 1263 to 1289 (or 1295) until her death. She was among the women to rule as monarchs in India and promoted a male image in order to do so ...
, a 13th-century ruler of
Deccan Plateau The large Deccan Plateau in southern India is located between the Western Ghats and the Eastern Ghats, and is loosely defined as the peninsular region between these ranges that is south of the Narmada river. To the north, it is bounded by t ...
.


Individual categories

* Award for courage and bravery * Awards for making outstanding contributions to women’s endeavour, community work, or making a difference, or women's empowerment


History

Stree Shakti Puraskar, the predecessor of the Nari Shakti Puraskar, was instituted in the year 1999. It carried a cash prize of 100,000 and a citation. The Stree Shakti Puraskar was given in the same six categories as the Nari Shakti Award.


1999 recipients

The first ''Stree Shakti Puraskar'' awards were conferred on five women by
Prime Minister A prime minister, premier or chief of cabinet is the head of the cabinet and the leader of the ministers in the executive branch of government, often in a parliamentary or semi-presidential system. Under those systems, a prime minister is ...
Atal Bihari Vajpayee Atal Bihari Vajpayee (; 25 December 1924 – 16 August 2018) was an Indian politician who served three terms as the 10th prime minister of India, first for a term of 13 days in 1996, then for a period of 13 months fr ...
at the
Vigyan Bhavan Vigyan Bhawan ("science building") is a premier conference centre of the Government of India in New Delhi. Built in 1956, over the years it has been the venue of conferences of national and international stature, seminars and award ceremonies at ...
in
New Delhi New Delhi (, , ''Naī Dillī'') is the Capital city, capital of India and a part of the NCT Delhi, National Capital Territory of Delhi (NCT). New Delhi is the seat of all three branches of the government of India, hosting the Rashtrapati B ...
on 4 January 2001: *''Kannagi Stree Shakti Puraskar'' awarded to
K. V. Rabiya Kariveppil Rabiya (born 1966) is a physically challenged social worker from Vellilakkadu, Malappuram, Kerala in India who rose to prominence through her role in the Literacy in India#Kerala, Kerala State Literacy Campaign in Malappuram district in ...
of
Malappuram district Malappuram (), is one of the 14 districts in the Indian state of Kerala, with a coastline of . It is the most populous district of Kerala, which is home to around 13% of the total population of the state. The district was formed on 16 June 196 ...
, Kerala for her efforts to promote the education of children with physical and/or mental
disabilities Disability is the experience of any condition that makes it more difficult for a person to do certain activities or have equitable access within a given society. Disabilities may be cognitive, developmental, intellectual, mental, physical, se ...
*''Mata Jijabai Stree Shakti Puraskar'' awarded to Chinna Pillai of
Madurai Madurai ( , also , ) is a major city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is the cultural capital of Tamil Nadu and the administrative headquarters of Madurai District. As of the 2011 census, it was the third largest Urban agglomeration in ...
, Tamil Nadu for her efforts towards initiating and spreading the
microcredit :''This article is specific to small loans, often provided in a pooled manner. For direct payments to individuals for specific projects, see Micropatronage. For financial services to the poor, see Microfinance. For small payments, see Micropa ...
movement and changing the lives of women living in poverty. *''Devi Ahilyabai Holkar Stree Shakti Puraskar'' awarded to Brahmacharini Kamala Bai of
Nagaur district Nagaur district is one of the 33 districts of the state of Rajasthan in western India. Panchayati Raj was introduced here. It is the fifth largest district in Rajasthan and the area of the district is . The city of Nagaur is the district headqua ...
, Rajasthan for establishing schools for girls *''Jhansi Ki Rani Laxmibai Stree Shakti Puraskar'' awarded to Kinkri Devi of
Sirmaur district Sirmaur is the southernmost district of Himachal Pradesh, northern India. It is largely mountainous and rural, with 90% of its population living in villages. Some of its towns include the capital   Nahan, Tuheri, Bhawan, Shamra, UchaTik ...
, Himachal Pradesh for leading public opposition to
illegal mining Illegal mining is mining activity that is undertaken without state permission, in particular in absence of land rights, mining licenses, and exploration or mineral transportation permits. Illegal mining can be a subsistence activity, as is the cas ...
*''Rani Gaidinliu Stree Shakti Puraskar'' awarded to Kumari Lalita Pradkar of Dhar district, Madhya Pradesh


2001 recipients

Five women were awarded the 2001 ''Stree Shakti Puraskar'' on 26 March 2003: * ''Kannagi Stree Shakti Puraskar'' awarded to Satya Rani Chadha * ''Mata Jijabai Stree Shakti Puraskar'' awarded to Mukta P. Dagli * ''Devi Ahilyabai Holkar Stree Shakti Puraskar'' awarded to Thamma Pawar * ''Jhansi Ki Rani Laxmibai Stree Shakti Puraskar'' awarded to Mah-Naaz Warsi * ''Rani Gaidinliu Stree Shakti Puraskar'' awarded to Sumani Jhodia


2002 recipients

The recipients of the 2002 ''Stree Shakti Puraskar'' were announced on 19 November 2006 together with the 2003 recipients. * ''Kannagi Award'' to Mahjabi Sarbar * ''Mata Jijabai Award'' to Sunita Yadav, * ''Devi Ahilya Bai Holkar Award'' to Shanta Trivedi * ''Jhansi Ki Rani Lakshmi Bai Award'' to Yamuna Sarojini Devi * ''Rani Gaidinliu Zeliang Award'' to Auda Viegas


2003 recipients

The recipients of the 2003 ''Stree Shakti Puraskar'' were announced on 19 November 2006 together with the 2002 recipients. * ''Kannagi Award'' to Vandana Gopikumar * ''Mata Jijabai Award'' to Kamala Khora * ''Devi Ahilya Bai Holkar Award'' to Sunita Krishnan * ''Jhansi Ki Rani Lakshmi Bai Award'' to Gopa Kothari * ''Rani Gaidinliu Zeliang Award'' to Bhagirathi Dutta


2004 recipients

The recipients of the 2004 ''Stree Shakti Puraskar'' were announced on 8 March 2008 together with the recipients for 2005 and 2006. * ''Kannagi Award'' to
Pinki Virani Pinki Virani (born January 30, 1959) is an Indian writer, journalist, human-rights activist and writer. She is the author of ''Once was Bombay'', ''Aruna's Story'', ''Bitter Chocolate: Child Sexual Abuse in India'' (which won the National Award ...
, Delhi * ''Mata Jijabai Award'' to
Shamshad Begum Shamshad Begum (Hindi: शमशाद बेगम, IAST: ''Śamśād Bēgam''; 14 April 1919 – 23 April 2013) was an Indian singer who was one of the first playback singers in the Hindi film industry. Notable for her distinctive voice and r ...
, Chhattisgarh * ''Devi Ahilya Bai Holkar Award'' to Kavita Srivastava, Rajasthan * ''Jhansi Ki Rani Lakshmi Bai Award'' to
Triveni Balkrishna Acharya Triveni Acharya is an Indian journalist and activist living in Mumbai, best known for her work with the anti-sex-trafficking group the ''Rescue Foundation''. The group was founded by her husband, Balkrishna Acharya, but Triveni Acharya assumed ...
, Maharashtra * ''Rani Gaidinliu Zeliang Award'' to Monmohani Debnath, Tripura


2005 recipients

The recipients of the 2005 ''Stree Shakti Puraskar'' were announced on 8 March 2008 together with the recipients for 2004 and 2006. * ''Kannagi Award'' to Shaik Shamshad Begum, Andhra Pradesh * ''Mata Jijabai Award'' to
Sandhya Raman Sandhya Raman is an Indian costume designer and curator whose focus is on socially responsible designs. Raman is the founder of Desmania Foundation. Sandhya Raman designs costumes for dancers practicing contemporary as well as traditional dance ...
, Delhi * ''Devi Ahilya Bai Holkar Award'' to Neeta Bahadur, Uttar Pradesh * ''Jhansi Ki Rani Lakshmi Bai Award'' to
Rani Bang Abhay Bang and Rani Bang are Indian activists and community health researchers working in the Gadchiroli district of Maharashtra, India. Together, they have overseen a programme that has substantially reduced infant mortality rates, one whic ...
, Maharashtra * ''Rani Gaidinliu Zeliang Award'' to Salmin Lyngdoh, Meghalaya


2006 recipients

The recipients of the 2006 ''Stree Shakti Puraskar'' were announced on 8 March 2008 together with the recipients for 2004 and 2005. * ''Kannagi Award'' to Kalpana Sarkar, Madhya Pradesh * ''Mata Jijabai Award'' to Nighat Shafi Pandit, Jammu and Kashmir * ''Devi Ahilya Bai Holkar Award'' to D. Shanthi, Tamil Nadu * ''Jhansi Ki Rani Lakshmi Bai Award'' to Vanguri Suvartha, Andhra Pradesh * ''Rani Gaidinliu Zeliang Award'' to Senu Tsuhah, Nagaland


2007 recipients

The recipients of the 2007 ''Stree Shakti Puraskar'' were announced on 28 February 2009: * ''Kannagi Award'' to Aruna Tara, Andhra Pradesh * ''Mata Jijabai Award'' to V. Vijaya, Andhra Pradesh * ''Devi Ahilya Bai Holkar Award'' to Vaishnavi Jayakumar, Tamil Nadu * ''Jhansi Ki Rani Lakshmi Bai Award'' to Rani Devi, Haryana * ''Rani Gaidinliu Zeliang Award'' to Buangi Sailo, Mizoram


2008 recipients

The recipients of the 2008 ''Stree Shakti Puraskar'' were announced on 8 March 2010 together with the 2009 recipients. * ''Kannagi Award'' to
Mahe Jabeen Mahe Jabeen (born 1961) is an Indian poet, lawyer and minority rights activist, and a winner of the Rajiv Gandhi Manav Seva award for her social service. Early life ''Maha Jabeen Mohammed'', better known as ''Mahe Jabeen'' was born in 1961 in ...
, Andhra Pradesh * ''Devi Ahilya Bai Holkar Award'' to Hina Shah, Gujarat * ''Jhansi Ki'' ''Rani Lakshmi Bai Award'' to Sunita Devi, Haryana * ''Rani Gaidinliu Zeliang Award'' to Jhingubai Shrawan Bolake, Maharashtra


2009 recipients

The recipients of the 2009 ''Stree Shakti Puraskar'' were announced on 8 March 2010 together with the 2008 recipients. * ''Kannagi Award'' to
Phoolbasan Bai Yadav Phoolbasan Bai Yadav is an Indian social worker and the founder of the non governmental organization, ''Maa Bamleshwari Janhit Kare Samiti'', known for her efforts towards the development of economically and socially backward women of Chhattisga ...
, Chhattisgarh * ''Devi Ahilya Bai Holkar Award'' to Rashmi Singh, Delhi * ''Jhansi Ki Rani Lakshmi Bai'' to M. Vijaya, Karnataka * ''Rani Gaidinliu Zeliang Award'' to Ved Kumari Ghai, Jammu & Kashmir * ''Rani Rudramma Devi Award'' to Sugatha Kumari, Kerala


2010 recipients

The 2010 ''Stree Shakti Puraskar'' was awarded to four women: * ''Kannagi Award'' to Thagu Maya Bardewa from Sikkim * ''Devi Ahilya Bai Holkar Award'' to Monika S. Garg from Uttar Pradesh * ''Rani Lakshmi Bai Award'' to Pottabathini Padmavathi from Andhra Pradesh * ''Rani Gaidinliu Zeliang Award'' to Rathnamma from Karnataka


2011 recipients

The 2011 ''Stree Shakti Puraskar'' was awarded to six women: * ''Kannagi Award'' to Kanwaljit Kaur from Chandigarh * ''Mata Jijabai Award'' to Jagmati Malik from Haryana * ''Devi Ahilya Bai Holkar Award'' to Hypno Padma Kamlakar from Andhra Pradesh * ''Rani Lakshmi Bai Award'' to Sandhya Pandey from Chhattisgarh * ''Rani Gaidinliu Zeliang Award'' to
Draupadi Ghimiray Draupadi Ghimiray is an Indian social activist. She was honoured with the Padma Shri, India's fourth highest civilian award in 2019. Notable Work Ghimaray founded Sikkim Viklang Sahayata Samiti (SVSS) for the benefit of the disabled people of S ...
from Sikkim * ''Rani Rudramma Devi Award'' to Rakhee Gupta Bhandari from Delhi


2012 recipients

The 2012 ''Stree Shakti Puraskar'' was awarded to five women. In addition, the ''Rani Lakshmi Bai Award'' was posthumously dedicated to the "Spirit of Nirbhaya". * ''Kannagi Award'' to Guramma H. Sankina from Karnataka * ''Mata Jijabai Award'' to Sonika Agarwal from Delhi * ''Devi Ahilya Bai Holkar Award'' to Olga D’mello of Maharashtra * ''Rani Gaidinliu Zeliang Award'' to Omana T.K from Kerala * ''Rani Rudramma Devi Award'' to
Pranita Talukdar Pranita Talukdar was an Indian teacher, social worker and politician belonging to Indian National Congress. She was elected as a member of Assam Legislative Assembly as an Indian National Congress candidate from Sorbhog (Vidhan Sabha constituen ...
from Assam


2013 recipients

The 2013 ''Stree Shakti Puraskar'' was awarded to six recipients: * ''Kannagi Award'' to T. Radha K. Prashanti from Andhra Pradesh * ''Mata Jijabai Award'' to Bina Sheth Lashkari from Maharashtra * ''Devi Ahilya Bai Holkar Award'' to Seema Sakhare from Maharashtra * ''Rani Lakshmi Bai Award'' to Manasi Pradhan from Odisha * ''Rani Gaidinliu Zeliang Award'' to
Vartika Nanda Dr. Vartika Nanda is an Indian prison reformer and a media educator. With her experience of the industry and academia, she has dedicated her life to the cause of prison reform. She is a recipient of Stree Shakti Puraskar, the highest civilian ho ...
from Delhi * ''Rani Rudramma Devi Award'' to M. Venkaiah from Andhra Pradesh


2014 recipients

For the year 2014, the ''Stree Shakti Puraskar'' was awarded to four individuals and two organizations: * ''Kannagi Award'' to P Bhanumati of Kerala * ''Mata Jijabai Award'' to Chandraprabha Bokey from Maharashtra * ''Devi Ahilya Bai Holkar Award'' to Anyay Rahit Zindagi ( NGO) of Goa * ''Rani Lakshmi Bai Award'' to Seema Prakash of Madhya Pradesh * ''Rani Gaidinliu Zeliang Award'' to Sister Mariola from Rajasthan * ''Rani Rudramma Devi Award'' to Astha Sansthan (NGO) of Rajasthan 8 women received the ''Nari Shakti Puraskar'', which was conferred for the first time: *
Rashmi Anand Rashmi Anand is an Indian activist and writer concerned about domestic violence. The President of India awarded her the Nari Shakti Puraskar. This is the highest award for women in India. She founded the "Woman of the Elements Trust" which supp ...
*
Nanditha Krishna Dr. Nanditha Krishna (born 1951) is an Indian author, environmentalist and educationist. She was recognised by the Government of India who gave her one of the first Nari Shakti Awards in 2015, the highest award for women in India. She is the pre ...
*
Laxmi Gautam Laxmi Gautam ( hi, लक्ष्मी गौतम) is an Indian politician and was a member of the 16th Legislative Assembly of Uttar Pradesh of India. She represented the Chandausi constituency of Uttar Pradesh and is a member of the Sam ...
*
Neha Kirpal Neha Kirpal is an Indian social entrepreneur based in India. She is known for her work at the intersection of arts and mental health. She founded the India Art Fair in 2008, which she later sold to MCH Group. She is the co-founder of Amaha, a m ...
* Latika Thukral *
Sailakshmi Balijepally Sailakshmi Balijepally (25 January 1974 – 16 December 2023) was an Indian paediatrician and the founder of Ekam Foundation, an NGO working in the areas of child and maternal health and well-being. She was awarded the Nari Shakti Award for the ...
*
P. Kausalya P Kausalya, aka Periasamy Kousalya (born c. 1975) is an Indian HIV activist. She came to notice as the first woman to talk to the media about being one of India's HIV-positive people. She was awarded the Nari Shakti Puraskar in 2015 by the Indian ...
*
Swaraj Vidwan Swaraj Vidwan is an Indian social worker and activist for the underrepresented. She is a member of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes. She was awarded the Nari Shakti Puraskar by the government of India for her work with vulnerable and m ...


2015 recipients

The award was given to 22 recipients: 7 institutions and 15 individuals. The individual recipients are listed below: *
Lucy Kurien Sister Lucy Kurien is the founder and director of Maher, a community and interfaith organization for abused and destitute women and children, headquartered in Pune, India. Life Born in South India's Kerala province, Sister Lucy moved to Mumbai ...
*
Saurabh Suman Dr. Saurabh Suman is an Indian Agri researcher who was awarded the Nari Shakti Puraskar. She leads an NGO that empowers women in Bihar. Suiman has also been involved in organising celebrations of Mahishasur martyrdom day. Life Suman was born ...
* Basanti Devi * Suparna Baksi Ganguly * Meena Sharma *
Preeti Patkar Priti Patkar is an Indian social worker and human rights activist. She is the co-founder and director of the organisation Prerana that has done pioneering work in the red-light districts of Mumbai, India to protect children vulnerable to commerci ...
*
Uttara Padwar Uttara Padwar is an Indian charity worker from Madhya Pradesh who was awarded the Nari Shakti Puraskar in 2013. Life Uttara Padwar is from Madhya Pradesh where she leads a "Prayas Shiksha Samiti". This group works with Baigas, Gondi people and t ...
* Polumati Vijaya Nirmala * Vasu Primlani *
Sujata Sahu Sujata Sahu is an Indian social entrepreneur. Having worked as a teacher, she set up 17000 ft Foundation in order to improve school conditions in remote villages in Ladakh and Sikkim. The non-governmental organisation has undertaken Who ...
(17000 ft Foundation) *
Jyoti Mhapsekar Jyoti Mhapsekar (born c. 1950) is an Indian award winner. She worked as a librarian and a playwright. She is known for her role as founder and President of Stree Mukti Sanghatana. She has won awards including the Nari Shakti Puraskar. Life Both ...
*
Sumita Ghosh Sumita Ghose, is an Indian entrepreneur who started the Rangsutra collective and won the Nari Shakti Puraskar award from the president of India. Hundreds of artisan's co-own Rangsutra and through the company they sell their goods bridging the gap ...
* Anjali Sharma *
Krishna Yadav Krishna Yadav is an Indian entrepreneur. She is known for her successful South Asian pickle, pickle business venture, which she started after receiving training from Krishi Vigyan Kendra in Delhi. Over several years she sold pickles at the roadsi ...
*
Shakuntala Majumdar Shakuntala Majumdar (born 1964) is an Indian animal rights activist who was awarded the Nari Shakti Puraskar for her work for the Society for Protection of Cruelty to Animals in Thane. Life She was born in about 1964. In 2002 Majumdar and six ...
The institutional awards for 2015 were divided into categories: * ''Kannagi Award'' to the
State of Haryana Haryana (; ) is an Indian state located in the northern part of the country. It was carved out of the former state of East Punjab on 1 Nov 1966 on a linguistic basis. It is ranked 21st in terms of area, with less than 1.4% () of India's land ar ...
* ''Devi Ahilya Bai Holkar Award'' to the Konoklota Mahila Urban Co-Operative Bank, Assam * ''Rani Lakshmi Bai Awards'' to the Technology, Information, Forecasting & Assessment Council (TIFAC), Delhi and the Breakthrough Trust, Delhi * ''Rani Gaidinliu Zeliang Awards'' to Jagori, Delhi and Guria Swayam Sevi Sansthan, Uttar Pradesh * ''Rani Rudramma Devi Award'' to the
Angadipuram Angadipuram is a major suburb of Perinthalmanna town, in Malappuram District of Kerala, southern India. It was the capital of the powerful medieval kingdom of Valluvanad. Angadipuram is also known for Angadipuram Laterite, a notified go-heri ...
Gramma Panchayat, Kerala


2016 recipients

The award was given to 33 recipients: 6 institutions and 27 individuals. *
State of Rajasthan Rajasthan (; lit. 'Land of Kings') is a state in northern India. It covers or 10.4 per cent of India's total geographical area. It is the largest Indian state by area and the seventh largest by population. It is on India's northwestern si ...
*
Chhanv Foundation The Chhanv Foundation is a non-governmental organization (NGO) set up by Laxmi Agarwal and Alok Dixit in order to help the survivors of acid attacks. It runs cafés known under the brand Sheroes in Agra, Lucknow, Noida and Udaipur, which raise f ...
,
Delhi Delhi, officially the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi, is a city and a union territory of India containing New Delhi, the capital of India. Straddling the Yamuna river, primarily its western or right bank, Delhi shares borders wi ...
* Mizo Hmeichhe Insuihkhawm Pawl (MHIP),
Mizoram Mizoram () is a state in Northeast India, with Aizawl as its seat of government and capital city. The name of the state is derived from "Mizo", the self-described name of the native inhabitants, and "Ram", which in the Mizo language means "lan ...
*
Sadhana Mahila Sangha Sadhana Mahila Sangha is an NGO in Bangalore that supports sex workers. During the Coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic they had to feed sex workers who could no longer find clients. History The organisation was formed in 2011 and registered i ...
,
Karnataka Karnataka (; ISO: , , also known as Karunāḍu) is a state in the southwestern region of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, with the passage of the States Reorganisation Act. Originally known as Mysore State , it was renamed ''Kar ...
* Shikshit Rojgar Kendra Prabandhak Samiti,
Rajasthan Rajasthan (; lit. 'Land of Kings') is a state in northern India. It covers or 10.4 per cent of India's total geographical area. It is the largest Indian state by area and the seventh largest by population. It is on India's northwestern s ...
* Tripunithura Kathakali Kendram Ladies Troupe,
Kerala Kerala ( ; ) is a state on the Malabar Coast of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, following the passage of the States Reorganisation Act, by combining Malayalam-speaking regions of the erstwhile regions of Cochin, Malabar, South C ...
*
Amruta Patil Amruta Patil (born 19 April 1979) is an Indian graphic novel author and painter. Career Born in 1979, Patil spent her childhood in Goa. She has a BFA degree from Goa College of Art (1999), and Master of Fine Arts degree from Tufts University, S ...
, Goa *
Amala Akkineni Amala Akkineni ('' née'' Mukherjee) is an Indian actress, Bharatanatyam dancer, and animal welfare activist. She has predominantly worked in Tamil films, in addition to Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, and Kannada-language films. She was a leading ...
,
Telangana Telangana (; , ) is a state in India situated on the south-central stretch of the Indian peninsula on the high Deccan Plateau. It is the eleventh-largest state and the twelfth-most populated state in India with a geographical area of and ...
* Anatta Sonney,
Karnataka Karnataka (; ISO: , , also known as Karunāḍu) is a state in the southwestern region of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, with the passage of the States Reorganisation Act. Originally known as Mysore State , it was renamed ''Kar ...
(Joint Award) *
Anoyara Khatun Anoyara Khatun (born 1996) is an Indian children's rights advocate. In 2017, at the age of 21 years, she was conferred India's highest civilian award for women, the Narishakti Puruskar, for her contributions to fighting child trafficking and ch ...
,
West Bengal West Bengal (, Bengali: ''Poshchim Bongo'', , abbr. WB) is a state in the eastern portion of India. It is situated along the Bay of Bengal, along with a population of over 91 million inhabitants within an area of . West Bengal is the four ...
*
B. Codanayaguy B. Codanayaguy is an Electronics & Instrumentation Engineer at the ISRO. She is responsible for the instrumentation of control systems for the solid rocket motors used in rocket launches. She was given the highest award for women in India, the N ...
, Puducherry (Joint Award) *
Bano Haralu Bano Megolhusau Haralu is an Indian journalist and a conservationist from Nagaland. She worked with Doordarshan, NDTV and was the editor of ''Eastern Mirror ''Eastern Mirror'' is a daily English language newspaper published from Dimapur in the ...
,
Nagaland Nagaland () is a landlocked States and union territories of India, state in the northeast India, northeastern region of India. It is bordered by the Indian states of Arunachal Pradesh to the north, Assam to the west, Manipur to the south and the ...
* Deepa Mathur,
Rajasthan Rajasthan (; lit. 'Land of Kings') is a state in northern India. It covers or 10.4 per cent of India's total geographical area. It is the largest Indian state by area and the seventh largest by population. It is on India's northwestern s ...
*
Divya Rawat Divya may refer to: *Divya (name), a Hindu first name meaning "divine" *''Divya Bhaskar'', a Gujarati newspaper *Divya Desams, Srivaishnava shrines that were sung about by Azhvars *Divya Prabha Eye Hospital, eye care hospital in Kerala *''Divya Shak ...
,
Uttarakhand Uttarakhand ( , or ; , ), also known as Uttaranchal ( ; List of renamed places in India, the official name until 2007), is a States and union territories of India, state in the North India, northern part of India. It is often referred to as t ...
*
Ilse Köhler Rollefson Ilse Köhler-Rollefson is a German scientist known for championing pastoralism, Ethnoveterinary medicine and camels with special reference to India. She found the Raika people whose way of life was under threat because of their dependence on cam ...
,
Rajasthan Rajasthan (; lit. 'Land of Kings') is a state in northern India. It covers or 10.4 per cent of India's total geographical area. It is the largest Indian state by area and the seventh largest by population. It is on India's northwestern s ...
*
Janki Vasant Janki Vasant (born ) is an Indian activist. She received the 2016 Nari Shakti Puraskar. Career Janki Vasant was born . She was on board Pan Am Flight 73 when it was hijacked in 1986. She established the NGO Samvedana in 2003 aiming to help childr ...
,
Gujarat Gujarat (, ) is a state along the western coast of India. Its coastline of about is the longest in the country, most of which lies on the Kathiawar peninsula. Gujarat is the fifth-largest Indian state by area, covering some ; and the nin ...
*
Kalpana Shankar Kalpana Shankar is Professor of Information and Communication Studies at University College Dublin. In 2022 Shankar became one of the first women of colour to become a full professor in Ireland. She studies the use of data and information in the soc ...
,
Tamil Nadu Tamil Nadu (; , TN) is a state in southern India. It is the tenth largest Indian state by area and the sixth largest by population. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu is the home of the Tamil people, whose Tamil languag ...
*
Kalyani Pramod Balakrishnan Kalyani Pramod Balakrishnan is an Indian textile designer based in Chennai in Tamil Nadu. She has worked with weavers through the Ministry of Rural Development. She received the 2016 Nari Shakti Puraskar. Early life Kalyani Pramod Balakrish ...
,
Tamil Nadu Tamil Nadu (; , TN) is a state in southern India. It is the tenth largest Indian state by area and the sixth largest by population. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu is the home of the Tamil people, whose Tamil languag ...
*
Mumtaz M. Kazi Mumtaz née Maqsood Ahmed Kazi also popularly known as Mumtaz M. Kazi is an Indian train engineer who is also regarded as the first Indian woman to drive a diesel engine train. In fact, she is also Asia's first woman locomotive driver. She was ...
, Maharashtra *
Nandita Shah Nandita Shah (born 1959) is an Indian homeopath and author. She started practicing as a doctor in 1981 and founded the non-governmental organization Sanctuary for Health and Reconnection to Animals and Nature (SHARAN) in 2005. She was presented ...
,
Tamil Nadu Tamil Nadu (; , TN) is a state in southern India. It is the tenth largest Indian state by area and the sixth largest by population. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu is the home of the Tamil people, whose Tamil languag ...
*
Pallavi Fauzdar Pallavi Fauzdar (born 20 December 1979) is an Indian woman best known for her high altitude motorcycle riding and her social work. Her exploits have been recognised by a number of firsts in the ''Limca Book of Records''. Early life and backgro ...
,
Delhi Delhi, officially the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi, is a city and a union territory of India containing New Delhi, the capital of India. Straddling the Yamuna river, primarily its western or right bank, Delhi shares borders wi ...
*
Pamela Malhotra Pamela Gale Malhotra is an American animal sanctuary owner who lives in India. She was awarded India's highest award for women, the Nari Shakti Puraskar for her work at the SAI Sanctuary. Life Pamela Gale was born in about 1952 in Red Bank, N ...
,
Karnataka Karnataka (; ISO: , , also known as Karunāḍu) is a state in the southwestern region of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, with the passage of the States Reorganisation Act. Originally known as Mysore State , it was renamed ''Kar ...
*
Qamar Dagar Qamar Dagar is an Indian Calligraphy, calligrapher. She is the founder of the Qalamkaari Creative Calligraphy Trust. In 2016, she was awarded the Nari Shakti Puraskar, India's highest civilian award for women. Early life and education Dagar w ...
,
Delhi Delhi, officially the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi, is a city and a union territory of India containing New Delhi, the capital of India. Straddling the Yamuna river, primarily its western or right bank, Delhi shares borders wi ...
*
Reema Sathe Reema Sathe (born 5 September) is an Indian social activist and entrepreneur. She created a food company that shares its profits more fairly with small farmers. She was awarded the Nari Shakti Puraskar for her work in 2017. She has been Featured b ...
, Maharashtra *
Ringyuichon Vashum Ringyuichon Vashum is an Indian activist for microcredit in Ukhrul District in the state of Manipur. She facilitates the formation of women's self-help groups. She was awarded the Nari Shakti Puraskar for her work in 2017. Life Ringyuichon Va ...
,
Manipur Manipur () ( mni, Kangleipak) is a States and territories of India, state in Northeast India, with the city of Imphal as its capital. It is bounded by the Indian states of Nagaland to the north, Mizoram to the south and Assam to the west. It ...
* Sangita Iyer,
Kerala Kerala ( ; ) is a state on the Malabar Coast of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, following the passage of the States Reorganisation Act, by combining Malayalam-speaking regions of the erstwhile regions of Cochin, Malabar, South C ...
*
Smita Tandi Smita Tandi (born ) is an Indian police constable in the state of Chhattisgarh. She set up a fund to help people unable to pay for medical treatment and received the 2016 Nari Shakti Puraskar in recognition of her humanitarian efforts. Career ...
, Chhattisgarh *
Sumitra Hazarika Sumitra Hazarika is an Indian activist. She was born in a village near to Titabor in Assam, India. She was married to Manindra Gogoi until his death in 2015 and was sister-in-law to Bhupen Hazarika. She is president of the Mission for Integration, G ...
,
Assam Assam (; ) is a state in northeastern India, south of the eastern Himalayas along the Brahmaputra and Barak River valleys. Assam covers an area of . The state is bordered by Bhutan and Arunachal Pradesh to the north; Nagaland and Manipur ...
*
Sunita Singh Choken Sunita Singh Choken (born ) is an Indian mountaineer and activist. She climbed Mount Everest in 2011. Afterwards she did two long distance cycle trips to promote both the environment and the "Save, educate the girl child" campaign (Beti Bachao, ...
,
Haryana Haryana (; ) is an Indian state located in the northern part of the country. It was carved out of the former state of East Punjab on 1 Nov 1966 on a linguistic basis. It is ranked 21st in terms of area, with less than 1.4% () of India's land ...
*
Subha Varier Subha Varier is an Indian space engineer. She has specialised in the video systems used on Indian satellite launches. In 2017 she received the Nari Shakti Puraskar, India's highest award for women after the record release of 104 satellites in one ...
,
Kerala Kerala ( ; ) is a state on the Malabar Coast of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, following the passage of the States Reorganisation Act, by combining Malayalam-speaking regions of the erstwhile regions of Cochin, Malabar, South C ...
(Joint Award) * Tiasa Adhya,
West Bengal West Bengal (, Bengali: ''Poshchim Bongo'', , abbr. WB) is a state in the eastern portion of India. It is situated along the Bay of Bengal, along with a population of over 91 million inhabitants within an area of . West Bengal is the four ...
* V. Nanammal,
Tamil Nadu Tamil Nadu (; , TN) is a state in southern India. It is the tenth largest Indian state by area and the sixth largest by population. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu is the home of the Tamil people, whose Tamil languag ...
* Zuboni Hümtsoe,
Nagaland Nagaland () is a landlocked States and union territories of India, state in the northeast India, northeastern region of India. It is bordered by the Indian states of Arunachal Pradesh to the north, Assam to the west, Manipur to the south and the ...


2017 recipients

39 individuals and institutions received the award. *
Gargi Gupta Gargi Gupta is the founder and secretary of Voice Of World (NGO), a multi-unit non-profit organization for visually impaired, disabled, and orphaned children in Eastern India, headquartered in Kolkata, India. Life Gupta was born in West Ben ...
*
Sindhutai Sapkal Sindhutai Sapkal (14 November 1948 – 4 January 2022) was an Indian social worker and social activist known particularly for her work in raising orphaned children in India. She was awarded the Padma Shri in 2021 in Social Work category. Earl ...
*
Gauri Maulekhi Gauri Maulekhi is an animal welfare activist in India. She is the Trustee of People for Animals, India's largest animal welfare organization founded by Smt. Maneka Gandhi, Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha. A protege of Ms. Gandhi, she has led succ ...
*
Navika Sagar Parikrama Navika Sagar Parikrama () was a circumnavigation of the globe by female officers of the Indian Navy. The six-member all-woman team circumnavigated and managed the whole operation in their first-ever global journey, on INSV ''Tarini''. The voyag ...
– INSV Tarini Team – Combined Award to Lt. Cdr. Vartika Joshi, Lt. Cdr. Pratibha Jamwal, Lt. Cdr. Patarpalli Swathi, Lt. Aishwarya Bodapatti, Lt. SH Vijaya Devi and Lt. Payal Gupta. * Dr. Malvika Iyer * R Umadevi Nagaraj *
Thinlas Chorol Thinlas Chorol (born 6 May 1981) is a social entrepreneur and writer from Ladakh, India. She founded the Ladakhi Women's Travel Company and has written articles on tourism in Ladakh and other issues. She first gained notability when she in her ...
*
S. Siva Sathya S is the nineteenth letter of the English alphabet. S may also refer to: History * an Anglo-Saxon charter's number in Peter Sawyer's, catalogue Language and linguistics * Long s (ſ), a form of the lower-case letter s formerly used where " ...
*
Bharti Kashyap Bharti Kashyap is an Indian Ophthalmology, ophthalmologist and social worker. She was honoured with Nari Shakti Puraskar in 2017 and is a five-time recipient of the National IMA for the welfare of the underprivileged section of social sciences. ...
– eye doctor *
Beti Zindabad Bakery The Beti Zindabad Bakery was established in the Jashpur district of Chhattisgarh, India in 2017. It employs survivors of human trafficking and won the 2017 Nari Shakti Puraskar. History The Beti Zindabad Bakery was established in the village ...
*
Mittal Patel Mittal Patel (born ) is an Indian activist from Gujarat. After her studies, she began to help people from indigenous tribes to integrate into society. In recognition of her work, she was awarded the Nari Shakti Puraskar in 2018. Career Patel ...
* Sabarmatee Tiki * Jayamma Bandari *
K. Syamalakumari K. Syamalakumari aka Syamala Kumari is an Indian temple painter. This was an occupation traditionally carried out by men. Her work includes painting at the Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Kerala. She has been awarded the Nari Shakti Puraskar. Life ...
* Vanastree *
Lizymol Philipose Pamadykandathil Lizymol Philipose Pamadykandathil is an Indian dental materials scientist. Her work has been recognised with a Nari Shakti Puraskar - the highest civilian honour exclusively for women in India. Life She holds a doctorate and master's degree from ...
* Chirom Indira *
Urmila Balawant Apte Urmila Balavant Apte is the Indian Founder of the BhartiyaStree Shakti organisation in 1988 which is dedicated to the empowerment of women. She received the Nari Shakti Puraskar from President Ram Nath Kovind in 2018 for her work. Life Apt ...
*
Deepika Kundaji Deepika Kundaji (born ) is an Indian farmer whose methods gained national attention and an award from the Government of India. The Nari Shakti Puraskar award was made by the President of India, Ram Nath Kovind. The award is India's highest civi ...
* Purnima Barman *
Anita Bharadwaj Anita Bhardwaj is an Indian high altitude rescue doctor. She is joint medical director of the Six Sigma High Altitude Medical Rescue Services and she has received the highest award for women in India, the Nari Shakti Puraskar. Life She is the me ...
*
Ambica Beri Ambica Beri born Ambica Subherwal is an Indian art gallery owner. She was awarded the Nari Shakti Puraskar in 2018 for establishing a retreat for artists. Life Ambica Subherwal was interested in art as a girl. Her father was an architect. Ber ...
*
Pushpa Girimaji Pushpa Girimaji is an author, journalist, consumer rights columnist and consumer safety advocate. She is the only Indian journalist to have written a weekly consumer column continuously for over three decades. Career Girimaji began her career ...
* Avani (organisation) * Shrujan *
Dr. C.K. Durga Doctor is an academic title that originates from the Latin word of the same spelling and meaning. The word is originally an agentive noun of the Latin verb 'to teach'. It has been used as an academic title in Europe since the 13th century, w ...
*
Rekha Mishra Rekha Mishra (born c. 1986) is an Indian police officer from Railway Protection Force(RPF) who was recognised for finding hundreds of lost children. She was awarded the Nari Shakti Puraskar in 2018. Life Mishra was born in about 1986. Her mili ...
*
Mehvish Mushtaq Mehvish Mushtaq Hakak (Urdu: مہوش مشتاق) (born 1989) is an Application and Software developer, who created a Business Directory App for Kashmir called "Dial Kashmir", in 2013, for the Kashmir valley, which made her the first Kashmiri fe ...
*
Karuna Society for Animals and Nature Karuna may refer to: * Karuṇā, part of the spiritual path in Buddhism and Jainism. * Karuna Kodithuwakku (born 1961), Sri Lankan politician * Vinayagamoorthy Muralitharan (born 1966), also known as Colonel Karuna * Karuna, Finland, former munic ...
* One Stop Centre,
Raipur Raipur ( ) is the capital city of the Indian state of Chhattisgarh. Raipur is also the administrative headquarters of Raipur district and Raipur division, and the largest city of the state. It was a part of Madhya Pradesh before the state of C ...
* Millet Network of India * State of Punjab * Madhu Jain * Jetsun Pema *
M.S. Sunil Dr. M.S. Sunil (born c.1960) is an Indian Academician, Humanist and Philanthropist known for housing the homeless. She founded Dr. M.S. Sunil Foundation in December, 2016 in Pathanamthitta, with five trust members and six volunteers. Her works fo ...
* Sheela Balaji * Anuradha Krishnamoorthy and
Namrata Sundaresan Namrata Sundaresan is an Indian social entrepreneur, chef and cheesemaker. She won the 2017 Nari Shakti Puraskar with Anuradha Krishnamoorthy. Career Namrata Sundaresan was born an Odia people, Odia and moved to Chennai in Tamil Nadu after gett ...
* Justice Gita Mittal


2018 recipients

The President of India,
Ram Nath Kovind Ram Nath Kovind (; born 1 October 1945) is an Indian politician who served as the 14th President of India from 2017 to 2022. He is a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party. He is the second person after K. R. Narayanan, from the Dalit community ...
gave away the Nari Shakti Puraskar to 44 recipients, which includes 3 institutions. The award function was held on 8 March 2019. The awardees (in alphabetical order) are: *
A. Seema A. Seema is an Indian scientist from Kerala who led a team that developed a bra that indicates whether the person wearing it has breast cancer. After it was sent for commercial development, she was awarded the Nari Shakti Puraskar in 2019 for her ...
(Scientist, Centre for Material for Electronics Technology MET – Developed low cost technology for early detection and screening of breast cancer *
Anshu Khanna Royal Fables is an exposition that presents art, design and fashion by patrons who belong to Indian royal families. It features traditional crafts as practiced in royal courts. Royal Fables features 30 royal and noble families engaged in keeping th ...
– Empowered women craftspersons through her project "Royal Fables" * Anu Malhotra (Filmmaker) – Transformed the lives of people through her thought provoking films *
Anuradha N. Naik Anuradha N. Naik is an Indian researcher working at the Central Coastal Agricultural Research Institute (CCARI) in Goa. She received the 2018 Nari Shakti Puraskar for her work supporting tribal women in cultivating Khola chilies. Early life Anur ...
– Contributed in developing the skills of tribal women to cultivate and conserve local chilli variety in Goa *
Chetna Gala Sinha Chetna Gala Sinha (born 1958) is an Indian social entrepreneur working to Rural women, empower women in areas of rural India by teaching entrepreneurship, entrepreneurial skills, access to land and means of production. Sinha and six other women ...
– Founder of a bank for and by rural women * Darshana Gupta – Touched the lives of 3500 women by initiating mass marriages of those belonging to less privileged backgrounds *
Devaki Amma Kollakkayil Devaki Amma (born ) is an Indian woman who began to grow a forest after a car accident prevented her from farming. The forest now covers 4.5 acres and has over 3,000 trees. She has received several awards for her work, including the ...
– An environmentalist who protected biodiversity by growing rare trees on her land in Kerala * Delia Narayan Contractor (Self-taught architect) – Designed eco-friendly sustainable houses with mud and stone inspired from local traditions * Gowri Kamakashi – Instrumental contribution in uplifting lives through her philanthropic interventions in healthcare *
Hekani Jakhalu Hekani Jakhalu Kense (; born after 1976) is an Indian politician and social entrepreneur from Nagaland. She set up the non-governmental organization YouthNet to help the youths of Nagaland pursue business opportunities. She was recognised with t ...
of YouthNet – Empowered women, unemployed and drop-out youth to develop skills and find livelihood * Ipsita Biswas (Scientist, DRDO) – Crucial contribution in performance evaluation of armour material and life-saving devices like bullet-proof jackets for our armed and paramilitary forces *
Iti Tyagi Iti Tyagi is an Indian designer and social entrepreneur. In 2015, she set up Craft Village which aims to connect artisans making handicrafts directly with buyers and patrons. She received the 2018 Nari Shakti Puraskar in recognition for her work ...
– Contributed in conserving crafts culture by setting up a platform wherein artisans get a chance to connect with consumers, industry and patrons. The platform offers learning and sharing *
Kagganapalli Radha Devi Kagganapalli Radha Devi is an Indian activist who successfully protested against a Hindu temple which would only employ male barbers. The Venkateswara Temple, Tirumala Sri Venkateswara Swami Vaari Temple is a Hindu temple situated in the h ...
– Instrumental in breaking traditional notions of gender and employing many female barbers in Tirupathi temple to tonsure the hair of women devotees. *
Kalpana Saroj Kalpana Saroj is an Indian entrepreneur and a Tedx speaker. She is the Chairperson of Kamani Tubes in Mumbai, India. Described as the original " Slumdog Millionaire", she bought the distressed assets of Kamani Tubes Company and successful ...
– Revives a shut-down industrial unit. Provided employment to poor masses and women. Born in an underprivileged family, she is now a globally recognised business woman. * Lalita Vakil – Chamba Rumal *
Madhuri Barthwal Madhuri Barthwal née Uniyal is a folk singer of Uttarakhand, India. She is the first woman to be a music composer in All India Radio. She is said to be the first female Uttrakhand's musician to become a music teacher. On International Women's D ...
– First Garhwali female musician; dedicated her life towards folk music and its preservation *
Manju Manikuttan Manju Manikuttan (born ) is an Indian beautician and social worker. She rescued people who had been conned to be come servants in Arabia. She was awarded the Nari Shakti Puraskar which is the highest award for women in India. Life Manikuttan was ...
– A committed social worker, she has helped numerous Indian wo in Saudi Arabia who migrate for work and face foreign land issues *
Meenakshi Pahuja Meenakshi Pahuja (born 1978) is an Indian lecturer and marathon swimming, marathon swimmer. After a successful career as a Swimming (sport), competitive swimmer, she became a teacher at Lady Shri Ram College, and later entered open water swimmin ...
– An International level swimmer, She has played an instrumental role in the lives of young women and students with different abilities keeping an interest in swimming *
Mini Vasudevan Mini Vasudevan (born ) is an Indian animal rights activist based in Coimbatore Coimbatore, also spelt as Koyamputhur (), sometimes shortened as Kovai (), is one of the major metropolitan cities in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is loc ...
– A passionate animal activist who has sensitised the public and relentlessly worked on various aspects of animal welfare and environmental sustainability * Munuswamy Shanthi (Scientist, Satish Dhwan Space Center) *
Neelum Sharma Neelum Sharma (7 March 1969 – 17 August 2019) was an Indian anchor who was most well known as one of the founding anchors of Doordarshan and was a recipient of the Nari Shakti Puraskar, the highest civilian award for women in India. Life Thr ...
– A senior correspondent at DD News & a filmmaker. Her strong advocacy of the marginalised section is reflected in several documentaries directed by her * Nomita Kamdar – An entrepreneur who has played a key role in bringing public awareness about environmental issues through adventure sports and eco-tourism, thereby restoring the natural harmony in the Western Ghats *
Pamela Chatterjee Pamela chatterrjee is a writer and rural activist in India. Her project reclaimed 625,000 hectares of land. She has been recognised with the Nari Shakti Puraskar award. It is the highest award for women in India. Life She was born in about 1930 ...
– She has dedicated her life to the restoration of barren lands, uncultivable sodic soils and water conservation projects. She has supported numerous farmers through her work *
Pragya Prasun Pragya Prasun (born ) is an Indian activist who survived an acid attack and set up the Atijeevan Foundation. The organisation has supported more than 250 other survivors and in 2019, she received the Nari Shakti Puraskar (lit. "Woman Power Awar ...
– An activist and social worker who survived an acid attack and now provides relief and rehabilitation to such survivors to enable them to thrive in life * Priyamvada Singh – An entrepreneur who has created employment opportunities for villagers by restoring her 148 year old ancestral fort and developing it as a community-run home stay *
Pushpa Preeya Pushpa Preeya also known as either Pushpa NM or Pushpa N. M. is an Indian scribe, IT professional, social activist and volunteer. She is well known for her voluntary service of writing exams for visually impaired people. Biography She was b ...
– An exam scribe who has been writing exams for specially-enabled persons from the past 10 years and aims to contribute in their lives and careers *
Rahibai Soma Popere Rahibai Soma Popere (), born in 1964, is an Indian farmer and conservationist. She helps other farmers return to native varieties of crops, preparing hyacinth beans for self-help groups. She is among three Indians on the BBC list of " 100 Women ...
– Fondly known as "Seed Mother", she has conserved native seeds of several crops and prevented the exploitation of distressed farmers in Maharashtra *
Rajani Rajak Rajani may refer to: *Rajani (name), people named Rajani *Rajani (actress) (born 1965), Indian film actress * ''Rajani'' (TV series), a 1980s Indian TV series * ''Rajani'' (film), a 2009 Indian Kannada romantic comedy * ''Rajani'', an 1877 novel b ...
– Iconic folk singer of Dhola Maru art form of Chhattisgarh, she has relentlessly worked to keep this art form alive through her performances *
Reshma Nilofer Naha Reshma Nilofer Visalakshi is an Indian maritime pilot who currently involves in steering ships from sea to Kolkata & Haldia port. She became the first Indian as well as one among world's very few female marine pilots after qualifying as a rive ...
– The first woman marine pilot in India *
Rhea Mazumdar Singhal Rhea Mazumdar Singhal (born 1982) is an Indian entrepreneur creating biodegradable disposable products. Her awards include the Nari Shakti Puraskar. Life Singhal was born in Mumbai in 1982. She was educated at Bristol, Oxford and Harvard Univer ...
– An entrepreneur building a sustainable environment by using agri-waste to make biodegradable food packaging * Ruma Devi – Herself an artisan, she has empowered craftspersons by forming self-help groups, eliminating the middleman and bringing better profits to them. She works with over 11000 artisans as of now * Seema Kaushik Mehta – A Kathak artiste who is inspiring the next generation of artists by teaching them Kathak *
Seema Rao Seema Rao is popularly known as “Wonder Woman of India” in the Indian media. She is India's first female special forces trainer, having trained Special Forces of India for over two decades without compensation. She is an expert in close qua ...
– First and only woman commando trainer in India. She has trained over 15000 soldiers from Indian Army, Navy, Air, Paramilitary Police, NSG, ITBP, SVP, NPA Commando Wing SFF & Para Special Forces free of cost. She, along with her husband invented an indigenous method of reflex shooting, which is known as the Rao System of Reflex Fire which has benefited the Indian Army. *
Sister Shivani Shivani Verma (born 31 May 1972), better known as BK Shivani, is a teacher in the Brahma Kumaris spiritual movement of India. Early life BK Shivani's parents began following the Brahma Kumaris when she was a child. She began to attend meetings ...
(Motivational speaker and teacher) – Her seminars and television programmes on human behaviour have transformed the millions of lives *
Smriti Morarka Smriti Morarka is an Indian social activist reviving handwoven cloth and improving mental health. In 2019 she was awarded the "Woman Power Award" Nari Shakti Puraskar by the President of India on International Women's Day in recognition of the exa ...
– Initiated "Tantuvi" to revive the weaving traditions of Benaras. She provides a platform to the young generation to take up weaving *
Snehlata Nath Snehlata Nath (born 27 December 1965) is an Indian activist known for her work with the Nilgiris. She has received the Jamnalal Bajaj Award and the Nari Shakti Puraskar. Life Nath was born in 1965. She was a founding director of Keystone Foun ...
(Founder of Keystone Foundation) She has dedicated 26 years of her life to creating a harmonious balance between nature, humans and technology *
Sonia Jabbar Sonia Jabbar is an Indian plantation owner and wildlife conservationist. Starting in 2012, she transformed her tea plantation in Darjeeling to accommodate and facilitate the safe passage of elephants during their migration between Nepal and Assam. ...
(Tea planter & wildlife conservationist) – She founded the Haathi Saathi Nature Club for children and also established an elephant friendly tea estate *
Sujatha Mohan Sujatha Mohan (credited as Sujatha) is an Indian playback singer who is popular for singing in Malayalam, Tamil and Telugu movies. She has also sung for Kannada, Badaga, Hindi and Marathi movies. In a career spanning 48 years, she has record ...
– She has spread awareness of the importance of eye donation, and provided essential eyecare services to the rural and poor population in Chennai *
Sunita Devi Sunita Devi (c. 1897 – 3 November 1932), real name Armina Peerbhoy, generally known just as Sunita, was a model for the sculptor Jacob EpsteinGardiner, Stephen. (1993) ''Epstein: Artist Against the Establishment''. London: Flamingo, pp. 261-2 ...
– Working on the issue of women's health and sanitation, she is a Rani Mistri (Master Trainer) under the Swacch Bharat Mission *
Twinkle Kalia Twinkle Kalia (born 1982) is an Indian woman who lives in Delhi. She funds and drives ambulances. She was given the highest award for women, the Nari Shakti Puraskar, in 2017. Life Kalia was born in 1980. When she came to marry her fiancé i ...
– Provides free ambulance service for the needy in New Delhi * Urmi Basu – By forming the "New Light" organisation, she has been instrumental in changing lives of the children of sex workers in Kolkata's red-light area * One Stop Centre, Lucknow (Institutional Awardee) *Qasab-Kutch Craftswomen Producer Co. Ltd. (Institutional Awardee) *The Social Welfare and Nutritional Meal Programme Department, Tamil Nadu (Institutional Awardee)


2019 recipients

The President of India,
Ram Nath Kovind Ram Nath Kovind (; born 1 October 1945) is an Indian politician who served as the 14th President of India from 2017 to 2022. He is a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party. He is the second person after K. R. Narayanan, from the Dalit community ...
gave away the Nari Shakti Puraskar to fifteen women achievers. The award function was held on 9 March 2020. List of the awardees: *
Padala Bhudevi Padala Bhudevi is an Indian social activist with Savara women to help people to improve entrepreneurship and their family diet. In March 2020 she received the Nari Shakti Puraskar. Biography Bhudevi is from the Savara tribal community living in t ...
from
Srikakulam Srikakulam is a city and the headquarters of Srikakulam district in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. census,. it has a population of 165,735. There are many other places of Buddhist Tourism such as Salihundam, Kalinga Patnam, Dabbaka V ...
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Andhra Pradesh Andhra Pradesh (, abbr. AP) is a state in the south-eastern coastal region of India. It is the seventh-largest state by area covering an area of and tenth-most populous state with 49,386,799 inhabitants. It is bordered by Telangana to t ...
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Bina Devi Bina Devi (born ) is an Indian leader who became known for inspiring women to become businesswoman through mushroom cultivation. Nicknamed 'Mushroom Mahila' for popularising mushroom cultivation, Bina Devi gained respect and became the Sarpanch ...
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Munger Munger, formerly spelt as Monghyr, is a twin city and a Municipal Corporation situated in the Indian state of Bihar. It is the administrative headquarters of Munger district and Munger Division. Munger was one of the major cities in Eastern ...
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Bihar Bihar (; ) is a state in eastern India. It is the 2nd largest state by population in 2019, 12th largest by area of , and 14th largest by GDP in 2021. Bihar borders Uttar Pradesh to its west, Nepal to the north, the northern part of West ...
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Arifa Jan Arifa Jan (born ) is an Indian activist for felt rug making in Srinagar in Kashmir. Jan was awarded the Nari Shakti Puraskar on 8 March 2020. Life Arifa Jan was born . She is known for reviving the Kashmiri art of rug making known as Namda. Sh ...
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Jammu and Kashmir Jammu and Kashmir may refer to: * Kashmir, the northernmost geographical region of the Indian subcontinent * Jammu and Kashmir (union territory), a region administered by India as a union territory * Jammu and Kashmir (state), a region administered ...
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Chami Murmu Chami Murmu (born c. 1973) is an Indian environmental activist and is known for planting trees in India. She had planted 2,500,000 trees in India till she was awarded the Nari Shakti Puraskar in 2019. Biography Murmu was born about 1973, she is f ...
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Jharkhand Jharkhand (; ; ) is a state in eastern India. The state shares its border with the states of West Bengal to the east, Chhattisgarh to the west, Uttar Pradesh to the northwest, Bihar to the north and Odisha to the south. It has an area of . ...
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Leh Leh () ( lbj, ) is the joint capital and largest city of Ladakh, a union territory of India. Leh, located in the Leh district, was also the historical capital of the Kingdom of Ladakh, the seat of which was in the Leh Palace, the former ...
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Ladakh Ladakh () is a region administered by India as a union territory which constitutes a part of the larger Kashmir region and has been the subject of dispute between India, Pakistan, and China since 1947. (subscription required) Quote: "Jammu a ...
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Rashmi Urdhwareshe Rashmi Urdhwardeshe born Rashmi Ranade (born c.1959) is an Indian automotive engineer. She is the director of the Automotive Research Association of India. In March 2020 she received the Nari Shakti Puraskar Life Urdhwareshe was born in Nagpur ...
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Pune Pune (; ; also known as Poona, ( the official name from 1818 until 1978) is one of the most important industrial and educational hubs of India, with an estimated population of 7.4 million As of 2021, Pune Metropolitan Region is the largest i ...
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Sardarni Mann Kaur Man Kaur (1 March 1916 – 31 July 2021) was an Indian track-and-field athlete. She holds the world records in the Over-100 years old categories for a variety of events. At the age of 103, she was given the Nari Shakti Puraskar award by the Presid ...
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Patiala Patiala () is a city in southeastern Punjab, northwestern India. It is the fourth largest city in the state and is the administrative capital of Patiala district. Patiala is located around the '' Qila Mubarak'' (the 'Fortunate Castle') constru ...
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Punjab Punjab (; Punjabi: پنجاب ; ਪੰਜਾਬ ; ; also romanised as ''Panjāb'' or ''Panj-Āb'') is a geopolitical, cultural, and historical region in South Asia, specifically in the northern part of the Indian subcontinent, comprising ...
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Kalavati Devi Kalavati Devi (born 1965) is an Indian mason who became an award-winning toilet builder in Kanpur. She transformed her own community by installing a 50-seat toilet and then moved to other communities. She has helped build 4,000 toilets improving ...
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Tashi Malik Tashi and Nungshi Malik (born 21 June 1991) are the first siblings and twins to climb the Seven Summits and reach the North and South Poles and complete the Adventurers Grand Slam and Three Poles Challenge. Personal life The Malik twins (T ...
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Nungshi Malik Tashi and Nungshi Malik (born 21 June 1991) are the first siblings and twins to climb the Seven Summits and reach the North and South Poles and complete the Adventurers Grand Slam and Three Poles Challenge. Personal life The Malik twins (T ...
from Dehradun, Uttarakhand, * Kaushiki Chakroborty from Kolkata, West Bengal, * Karthyayani Amma and Bhageerathi Amma from Kerala, * Avani Chaturvedi from Rewa, Madhya Pradesh, * Bhawana Kanth from Darbhanga,
Bihar Bihar (; ) is a state in eastern India. It is the 2nd largest state by population in 2019, 12th largest by area of , and 14th largest by GDP in 2021. Bihar borders Uttar Pradesh to its west, Nepal to the north, the northern part of West ...
, * Mohana Singh from Agra, Uttar Pradesh, from Indian Air Force.


2020 recipients

Awards given 8 March 2022. * Anita Gupta * Ushaben Dineshbhai Vasava * Nasira Akhter * Sandhya Dhar * Nivruti Rai * Tiffany Brar * Padma Yangchan * Jodhaiya Bai Baiga * Saylee Nandkishor Agavane * Vanita Jagdeo Borade * Meera Thakur * Jaya Muthu, Tejamma  (joint) * Ela Lodh * Arti Rana


2021 recipients

file:Awards Eve for Nari Shakti Puraskar on 7 March 2022 with Narendra Modi.jpg, On the eve of the awards the winners met Narendra Modi Awards given 8 March 2022. * Sathupati Prasanna Sree * Tage Rita, Tage Rita Takhe * Madhulika Ramteke * Niranjanaben Mukulbhai Kalarthi * Pooja Sharma (entrepreneur), Pooja Sharma * Anshul Malhotra * Shobha Gasti * Radhika Menon (naval officer), Radhika Menon * Kamal Kumbhar * Sruti Mohapatra * Batool Begam * Thara Rangaswamy * Neerja Madhav * Neena Gupta (mathematician), Neena Gupta


See also

* List of awards for contributions to society * List of awards honoring women


Notes and references


External links

{{India Honours and Decorations Women in India Orders, decorations, and medals for women Civil awards and decorations of India Awards for contributions to society 1999 establishments in Delhi Awards established in 1999 Indian awards Awards honoring women