WOMEN'S AWARD 
(PRESS RELEASE)

Indian Women have taken on different roles before and after Independence and excelled in many fields. The achievements of such women are made all the more precious by the fact that in most cases, success has been achieved in the face of adversity and difficulties and with the strength of courage, initiative and determination.

It is important that such success stories should be publicly recognized so that such women become role models for the future generations of Indian women. Such recognition will also go a long way in moulding societal mindsets to accept and encourage the versatile roles of women in Indian society. The awards will reinforce the positive image of women in Indian society and help in reducing the influence of negative attitudes and practices such as sati.

As a measure of recognition of achievements of individual women in the field of social development, the Government of India has decided to institute five national awards. which are to be called 'Stree Shakti Puraskar'. These awards will be in the name of the following eminent women personalities in the Indian history, who are famous for their personal courage and integrity:-

• Devi Ahilya Bai Holkar

• Kanngi

• Mata Jijabai

• Rani Gaidenlou Zeliang

• Rani Lakshmi Bai

The award will carry a cash prize of Rs.1 lakh and a citation. The awards will be given to women who have triumphed over difficult circumstances and have fought for and established the rights of women in various fields. It is envisaged that women who have worked for the support and rehabilitation of women and children in especially difficult circumstances such as destitute women, widows, old aged and disabled women and victims of atrocities and conflicts would be awarded. Also, achievements of women who have worked in the areas of education, health, agriculture and rural industry, protection of forests and environment and those who have created awareness and consciousness on women's issues through arts and media would be recognized and awarded by the Government.

One of the awards will be given towards recognition of personal achievements by a woman in difficult circumstances.

The Department of Women and Child Development will invite nominations for the awards from Non-Governmental Organisations, Women Development Corporations, National and State level Commissions for Women etc. through the State Governments and Union Territory Administration. The awards are proposed to be presented in New Delhi on the occasion of International Women's Day i.e. 8^th March.

STREE SHAKTI PURASKAR

Indian Women have taken on different roles before and after Independence and excelled in many fields. The achievements of such women are made all the more precious by the fact that in most cases, success has been achieved in the face of adversity and difficulties and with the strength of courage, initiative and determination.

It is important that such success stories should be publicly recognized so that such women become role models for the future generations of Indian women. Such recognition will also go a long way in moulding societal mind sets to accept and encourage the versatile roles of women in Indian Society. The awards will help in reducing the influence of negative attitudes and practices such as Sati.

The Government of India proposes the institution of 5 National Awards to recognize the achievements of individual women in the field of social development. These annual awards are proposed to be called "Stree Shakti Puraskar". The award will carry a prize of Rs. 1 lakh and a citation. The awards may be given to women who have done work in any of the following areas:

•   Support and rehabilitation of women and children in especially
• difficult circumstances like destitute women and children, widows, victims of atrocities and conflicts, disabled women and children, aged women etc.
• education and training.
• Promoting self help groups.
• Support to women in agriculture and rural industry, including promotion of technology to reduce drudgery.
• Environment protection
• Empowerment of women for community and political participation.
• Health, including through propagation of indigenous systems of medicine.
• Creating awareness and consciousness on women's issues through the arts, media(including electronic and mass media), community bases programmes, etc.

These awards will be in the name of the following eminent women personalities in the Indian history, who are famous for their personal courage and integrity:-

• Devi Ahilya Bai Holkar

• Kanngi

• Mata Jijabai

• Rani Gaidenlou Zeliang

• Rani Lakshmi Bai

Mode of calling for nominations for the awards to be received from  State Governments/UT Administrations

Each State Government will be asked to set up its own Screening Committee which would include representation from the State Commissions for women, if available, State Social Welfare Advisory Boards, Secretary dealing with Welfare of women and 2-3 eminent NGOs who are working on this area. This Screening Committee will invite nominations and after screening, send short-listed 5 nominations to the DWCD. The Screening Committee may be headed by Minister dealing with welfare of women.

At the Central Government level an advertisement shall be issued in all the leading newspapers inviting nominations from the general public to be sent to respective Chief Secretaries of State Government by a certain date. The advertisement would contain briefly the areas of the awards as well as eligibility criteria.

Selection Process

Each State would be asked to send five nomination in the prescribed    format. These nominations would be screened by a national level Screening Committee headed by HRM/MOS(WCD) comprising of following members:

• Secretary(WCD) Member

• Chairperson, NCW Member

• Chairperson,CSWB Member

• Secretary or his nominee from M/o Social Justice & Empowerment Member

• Secretary or his nominee from M/o Rural Development Member

• 2 National level eminent NGOs/individuals as co-opted members

• JS(WD) Mem-Secy.

The National Selection Committee may at its discretion also consider individuals other than those recommended by the State Goverments.

Criteria for selection

• The nominee should be alive on the date of nomination and be above the age of 30 years of age.
• The nominee should have been working in the relevant field for at last five years
• The achievement of the nominee in the relevant field should be clearly documented
• The achievement of the nominee should be verifiable and subject to objective appraisals
• Preference should be given to women who have come up in life after a great deal of struggle and adversity.

The award will be given in New Delhi on the occasion of International Women's Day i.e. 8^th March.

The Award will be received personally by the awardee. The Department of Women and Child Development will pay the Awardees and an escort, expenditure involved in travelling and daily allowance as per rules.