Stree Shakti Puraskar

Stree Shakti Puraskar
Awarded by Government of India
Type	Civilian
Category	Women's activism (individual)
Instituted	1991
Cash award	₹ 300,000

Stree Shakti Puraskar (Women Power Award) is a series of India's national honours conferred on individual women for their exceptional achievement. The award is given in six categories, by the Ministry of Women and Child Development, Government of India. It recognises the spirit of courage of a woman in difficult circumstances, who has established this spirit of courage in her personal or professional life. The award also recognises the pioneering contribution of an individual in empowering women and raising women's issues.^[1]

Instituted in 1991, the award is conferred by the President on the occasion of International Women's Day, 8 March every year at New Delhi. The award carries a cash prize of rupees three lakh (Rs. 300,000) and a citation.^[2]

President of India Pranab Mukherjee bestowing the 2012 Rani Lakshmibai Stree Shakti Puraskar posthumously on Delhi gang rape victim Nirbhaya.^[3]

For the year 2012, the award was posthumously bestowed on the 2012 Delhi gang rape victim Nirbhaya.^[4]

Awards

The award is named after eminent women in Indian history, and is given in the following categories:^[1][5]

• Devi Ahilya Bai Holkar Award: named after Ahilya Bai Holkar, 18th-century ruler of Malwa kingdom
• Kannagi Award: named after Kannagi, a legendary Tamil woman
• Mata Jijabai Award: named after Mata Jijabai, mother of Shivaji, who founded the Maratha Empire in the 17th century
• Rani Gaidinliu Zeliang Award: named after Rani Gaidinliu, a 20th-century Naga spiritual and political leader
• Rani Lakshmi Bai Award: named after Rani Lakshmi Bai, the Queen of Jhansi
• Rani Rudramma Devi Award (for both men and women): named after Rudrama Devi, a 13th-century ruler of Deccan Plateau

History

Prime Minister Narendra Modi with the recipients of the Stree Shakti Puraskar and Nari Shakti Puraskar 2014.

To recognise exemplary achievement in individual women, the Government of India in 1991 instituted the Stree Shakti Puraskar.^[6]

2013 recipients

Manasi Pradhan, Dr. M. Venkaiah, Bina Sheth Lashkari, T. Radha, K. Prashanti, Dr. Vartika Nanda, Dr. Seema Sakhare.

Notes and references

1. "Stree Shakti Puraskar" (PDF). Ministry of Women and Child Development. Retrieved 2014-03-14.
2. "Stree Shakti Puruskar 2013: Invitation for Entries" (PDF). DAVP. Retrieved 2014-03-14.
3. "Stree Shakti Award for Nirbhaya". Daily News and Analysis. 7 March 2013. Retrieved 3 March 2014.
4. "President gives Stree Shakti awards on International Women's Day". Yahoo News India. 8 March 2013. Retrieved 3 March 2014.
5. "Women's Award". Ministry of Women and Child Development. Retrieved 2014-03-14.
6. "Worthy women, please stand up". The Telegraph (Calcutta). 14 February 2013. Retrieved 3 March 2014.