25 bravehearts selected for National Bravery Awards
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, January 17 2017: Twenty five young boys and girls have been selected for the National Bravery Awards � 2016.Four awards have been given posthumously.

The coveted Bharat Award has been conferred on 8 years old late Km Tarh Peeju of Arunachal Pradesh, who sacrificed her life in an attempt to save two of her friends from drowning., said a statement issued by PIB (DW) .

The prestigious Geeta Chopra Award has been conferred on 18 years old Tejasweeta Pradhan and 17 years old Shivani Gond, both from West Bengal, who showed immense courage in helping the police and the NGO in uncovering an international sex racket leading to the arrest of the mastermind in Delhi.

25 bravehearts selected for National Bravery Awards

The Sanjay Chopra Award has been given to 15 years old Master Sumit Mamgain of Uttarakhand who displayed outstanding bravery in fighting a leopard to save his cousin. Late Km Roluahpuii (13 years old) of Mizoram, Master Tushar Verma (15 years old) of Chhattisgarh and late Km H Lalhriatpuii (14 years old) of Mizoram have been conferred the Bapu Gaidhani Award.

Late Km Roluahpuii sacrificed her life while saving two girls from drowning.

Master Tushar Verma risked his own life and extinguished fire in his neighbour's shed and Km Lalhriatpuii sacrificed her life in an effort to save her cousin in a car accident.

The other recipients are Master Praful Sharma (Himachal Pradesh), Master Sonu Mali (Rajasthan), Km Akshita Sharma, Master Akshit Sharma, Master Naman (all from Delhi), Km Anshika Pandey (Uttar Pradesh), Km Nisha Dilip Patil (Maharashtra), Km Siya Vamansa Khode (Karnataka), Master Moirangthem Sadananda Singh (Manipur), Master Binil Manjaly, Master Adithyan MP Pillai, Master Akhil K.Shibu and Km Badarunnisa KP (all from Kerala), Master Tankeswar Pegu (Assam), Km Neelam Dhruv (Chhattisgarh), Master Thanghilmang Lunkim (Nagaland), Master Mohan Sethy (Odisha) and late Km Payal Devi (Jammu&Kashmir) .

The selection was made by a committee comprising representatives of various Ministries/Departments, non-Governmental organisations as well as office bearers of Indian Council for Child Welfare (ICCW) .

The children will receive their Awards from the Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 23, 2017 .

President Pranab Mukherjee and several other dignitaries will host receptions in their honour.

Several States will also organize State level functions.

The National Bravery Award Scheme was initiated by the ICCW to give due recognition to children who distinguish themselves by performing outstanding deeds of bravery and meritorious service.

Eligible awardees will be granted financial assistance until they complete their schooling.

Some State Governments also provide financial assistance.

In addition, ICCW will provide financial assistance under Indira Gandhi Scholarship Scheme to those undertaking professional courses such as engineering and medicine.

For the others, this assistance is provided till they complete their graduation.

The Government of India has reserved some seats for the awardees in medical and engineering colleges and polytechnics.

Since the inception of the scheme in 1957, the ICCW has given awards to 945 brave children which include 669 boys and 276 girls.