Nari Shakti Puruskar – Ministry of Women & Child Development

INTRODUCTION

• 3.1 In the last decade, there has been concerted effort by the Government to recognise and encourage women as reflected through a National Policy for Empowerment of Women in 2001. The issues related to women has gained utmost importance and focussed attention. “Nari Shakti Puruskars” shall showcase the Government’s commitment towards women with the aim of strengthening their legitimate place in the society. It will also provide an opportunity to the current generation to understand the contribution of women in building of society and the nation.

• 3.2 “Nari Shakti Puruskars” would be conferred on eminent women and institutions rendering distinguished service to the cause of  women especially belonging to the vulnerable and marginalized sections of the society. The recipients would be drawn from institutions and individuals. The Ministry of Women & Child Development (herein after referred to as “ the Ministry) would invite nominations from the State Governments, Union Territory Administrations, concerned Central Ministries, Non-Governmental Organizations, Universities,  Institutions, private  and public sector undertakings (PSUs) working for empowerment of women.

• 4.1 20 Nari Shakti Puruskars shall be conferred every year. The recipients of the Puruskars shall be declared every year on 20th February and awards will be conferred on 8th March on the occasion of International Women’s Day (IWD). The Award in each category shall carry a Certificate and a cash amount. The award would be given to eminent or outstanding Institutions or organisations and individuals from any part of the country.

• 4.2 The categories, description and nature of awards are given below:

• 4.3 Normally the Puruskars shall not be presented posthumously; provided that death occurred subsequent to a proposal having been submitted to the Ministry in the manner as stipulated in this guidelines, then Puruskars may be presented posthumously.

• 4.4 A Screening Committee and a Selection Committee would be constituted for the purpose which shall consider the achievement of the organizations and individuals nominated or recommended for the Puruskars by the prescribed authority. The outstanding contributions in the field shall be of primary consideration in identifying the recipients of Puruskars.

• 5.1 The Puruskars are open to all Indian Institutions,  organisations and individuals without any distinction or discrimination on ground of race, caste or creed.

• 5.2 In case of Individual category, the awardee must be above 30 years of age on 1st January of the year for which the award is to be given. The applicant should have worked in the relevant field for at least last 5 years. She should not have been a recipient earlier of the award (including Stree Shakti Puruskars).

• 5.3 The eligibility criteria for each of the category of Awards shall be as follows:

• 5.3.1 Rani Rudramma Devi Award for Best Panchayat /Village  Community

• (a) Exemplary contribution in the field of Health, Counselling, Legal aid, awareness, education, Institutional and non- institutional programmes for the women;

• (b) Significant role in the empowerment of women at the village level;

• (c) Outstanding achievement in the involvement and participation of local people or community in the promotion of women;

• (d) Promotion of enabling environment/safety in the public buildings for women in Panchayat area.

1. The award shall be given to the Municipal Bodies /Corporations or Cantonment Boards or other Statutory Urban Bodies, which have done outstanding work for women empowerment in different areas* (Annexure I).
2. To claim the award the following conditions shall be fulfilled, namely:-

• (a) Exemplary contribution in the field of Health, Counselling , Legal aid, awareness, Education, Institutional and non- institutional programmes for the women;
• (b) Significant role in the empowerment of women at the municipality level;
• (c) Outstanding achievement in the involvement and participation of local people or community in the promotion of care for women;
• (d) Promotion of enabling environment/safety in the public buildings for women in municipality area.

• (a) To the State or Union Territory which has impacted the Sex Ratio at Birth (SRB) by highest point that will contribute to improvement of Child Sex Ratio (CSR)

• (b) Promotion of access to healthcare for women including mental health, empowerment through information regarding health, sexuality – institutional deliveries, preventive care for diseases etc.

• (c) Curbing violence/ discrimination against women – sexual, communal or sectarian – at homes, work places and public place.

• (d) Promoting value of girl child: improving child sex ratio.

• (e) Promotion of  education  of  girls and  women  at all levels  –bridging gender gaps.

• (f) Dissemination of women’s issues to make a positive impact on lives of women and girls, curtailing harmful effects of T.V on women’s lives through gender – informed media policy promoting – message of gender equity through positive programming and information dissemination on laws and schemes.

• (g) Working towards up-liftment of the vulnerable and disadvantaged, zero tolerance for discrimination  against SC/ST women. Reaching out to marginalized and vulnerable women including minority women, women with disabilities and internally displaced women due to social strife.

• (h) Encourage women to hold leadership roles and promote women in decision making.

• (i) Have demonstrated ability to work with women and girls and men and boys as a team to work towards betterment of the society.

• (a) The institution should be providing comprehensive services for the women preferably in rural or hilly area of India especially to the vulnerable and marginalized women.

• (b) The institution or Organisation should have been a registered body and should have minimum five years’ experience in the concerns related to women

• (c) The institution should have made outstanding contribution and has wide recognition by the state or otherwise;

• (d) The institution has undertaken specialised or innovative services/practices and programme for the well- being of women/empowerment in the society;

• (e) Outstanding  achievement  to  provide  new  and  effective  outreach strategy or programmes for the advancement of women in the society.

• (a) The institution or Organisation should be a registered body and should have minimum five years’ experience in the field of service to women;

• (b) The institution should have made outstanding contribution  and have wide recognition by the State or other wise

• (c) The institution has undertaken specialised or innovative services/practices and programme for the well- being of women/empowerment in the society; for example addressing  the problems of women either by providing them gainful employment, or utilising their skills and experience for the benefit of the society;

• (d) Outstanding achievement to provide new and effective outreach strategy or programmes for the betterment of women in the society.

• (e) Creating infrastructure for providing enabling environment for women to work or steps for the benefit of women health/education

• (a) the institution or organisation should be a registered body and should have minimum five years of experience in the field of women and related issues ;

• (b) the institution should have remarkable achievements in research or publication and spread of knowledge on issues related to women in India

• (c) outstanding achievements in the Research & Development (R&D) in the area of education and training, health, technologies, skill building in the field of women ;

• (d) The institution should have been instrumental in developing and formulating policies and programmes for women either at the State or National Level;

• (e) dissemination of knowledge and creating awareness on the issues relating to women through conferences, seminars, workshops and other means;

• (f) Participatory leadership in the community and civil society at large in the field of women should be of prime concern.

• (a) State Governments, Union Territory Administrations, concerned Central Ministries/Departments.

• (b) Non-Governmental Organizations, Universities/ Institutions, private and public sector undertakings (PSUs) working for empowerment of women through the State Govt./Central Ministry/Department concerned.

• (c) However, in exceptional cases, the Selection Committee may also, suomoto, recommend a person or institution for the award, with justification.

• (d) Normally, self-nominations for the Puruskars shall not be considered. However, it may be considered by the Screening Committee and the Selection Committee as a special case.

• 7.1 For inviting the applications for the Awards, an advertisement will be published by the Ministry of Women and Child Development, Govt. of India in Newspapers across the country. The Ministry will write to all the State Governments, Union Territory Administrations, concernedCentral Ministries/Departments.

• 7.2 The information will be simultaneously placed on Ministry’s website along with the prescribed format and other social media platforms.

• 7.3 The applications (in the prescribed format) will be received by the Ministry of Women and Child Development.

• 8.1 A Screening Committee shall be constituted by the Ministry of Women and Child Development to scrutinize and short list the nominations received for the Awards.

• 8.2 The Screening Committee shall consist of :

• Union Minister for Women and Child Development – Chairperson, ex-officio
• Secretary, Ministry of Women & Child Development – Vice Chairperson, ex- officio
• Special or Additional Secretary, Ministry of Women & Child Development- Member, ex-officio
• Secretary or his nominee from Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment – Member, ex-officio
• Secretary or his nominee from Ministry of Rural Development – Member, ex-officio
• Chairperson or Nominee, National Commission for Women (NCW) – Member, ex-officio
• Chairperson, or Nominee, Central Social Welfare Board(CSWB) – Member, ex-officio
• Two National level eminent NGOs/individuals – Co-opted members
• Joint Secretary (Women Awards), – Member-Secretary

• 10.1 The Award shall be presented at New Delhi at a special ceremony/function to be held on the occasion of the International Women’s Day on 8th March every year.

• 10.2 The Ministry will reimburse travel expenses by economy class return fare, by shortest route, for the awardee to and from Delhi, by Air India and local travelling allowance on production of bills and air tickets. Apart from this boarding and lodging arrangements for the awardees for three days (one day prior and one day after the date of Puruskar ceremony) shall be arranged by the Ministry.

• (i) Women in agriculture – ensuring land rights; inheritance / share in parental property; individual / group titles to women in all government land transfers; credit support to women to purchase or lease land; records and legal support for women inheritance rights.

• (ii) Women in unorganized sector – provision of social security, leave, wages, working conditions, pensions, health benefits, maternity benefits, housing childcare, safety and occupational health etc.

• (iii) Women in services sector where there is poor gender ratio, improving women’s participation, special tax incentives for women headed enterprises, women employees, women entrepreneurial ventures etc.

• (iv) Promotion of skill development / vocational training/ training in traditional skills, and in other trades which promote employment of women especially in unorganized sector.

• (v) Construction/ Facilitating amenities for rural and urban poor women – toilets / housing / drinking water facilities.

• (vi) Work towards promoting young talent in particular young entrepreneurs.

• (vii) Working to promote women and girls in the field of science and technology

• (viii) Demonstrates work and dedication in elevating the status of women in the society.

• (i) Promotion of access to healthcare for women including mental health, empowerment through information regarding health, sexuality – institutional deliveries, preventive care for diseases etc.

• (ii) Curbing violence/ discrimination against women – sexual, communal or sectarian – at homes, work places and public place.

• (iii) Promoting value of girl child: improving child sex ratio.

• (iv) Promotion of education of girls and women at all levels – bridging gender gaps.

• (v) Women and Media – Dissemination of women’s issues to make a positive impact on lives of women and girls, curtailing harmful effects of T.V on women’s lives through gender – informed media policy promoting – message of gender equity through positive programming and information dissemination on laws and schemes.

• (vi) Working towards up-liftment of the vulnerable and disadvantaged, zero tolerance for discrimination against SC/ST women. Reaching out to marginalized and vulnerable women including minority women, women with disabilities and internally displaced women due to social strife.
• (vii) Encourage women to hold leadership roles and promote women in decision making.

• (viii) Have demonstrated ability to work with women and girls and men and boys as a team to work towards betterment of the society.