International Women's Day: Odisha's 'Crusader In A Wheelchair' Sruti Mohapatra Conferred With 'Nari Shakti Puraskar'

President Ram Nath Kovind conferred Sruti Mohapatra, an eminent social activist from Odisha, with the prestigious Nari Shakti Puraskar for her indomitable spirit and outstanding contributions towards the upliftment as well as empowerment of Divyangjan.

Mohapatra, a disability rights activist, is a former Chairperson of the Odisha State Commission for the Protection of Child Rights and currently a member of the National Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Known as the 'Crusader in a Wheelchair', Mohapatra founded ‘Swabhiman’ and ‘SHARE’, two NGOs working for the upliftment of Divyangjan in Odisha, in 2001. She also founded Project Anjali for Divyang children to showcase their talent and other projects for education and self-employment support for Divyangjan.

She worked for the passage of the PWD Act in 1996 and the RPWD Act in 2016. She was awarded the Vidya Bhawan Social Service Award in 2013 and the National Young Scientist Award in 1992. 

Notably on the International Women's Day on Tuesday, President Ram Nath Kovind conferred the Nari Shakti Puraskars on 29 outstanding individuals for 2020 and 2021.

Twenty-eight awards -- 14 each for the year 2020 and 2021 -- were given to the women in recognition of their exceptional work towards women empowerment, especially the vulnerable and marginalised.

The Nari Shakti Puraskar is a Women and Child Development Ministry initiative to acknowledge exceptional contribution made by individuals and institutions, and to celebrate women as game-changers and catalysts of positive change in society.

Its recipients are from fields such as entrepreneurship, agriculture, innovation, social work, education and literature, linguistics, arts and crafts, STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics), disability rights, merchant navy and wildlife conservation.

The latest awardees include social entrepreneur Anita Gupta, organic farmer and tribal activist Ushaben Dineshbhai Vasava, innovator Nasira Akhter, Intel-India head Nivruti Rai, down syndrome affected Kathak Dancer Saylee Nandkishor Agavane, first woman snake rescuer Vanita Jagdeo Borade and mathematician Neena Gupta.

On the eve of the International Women's Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi interacted with the awardees and said that the success of government efforts, like vocal for local, is dependent on the contribution of women.

PM Modi also said it is important to ensure that all women become part of decision-making at a family level which will follow as a result of their economic empowerment.

Sharing her experience after felicitation by the President, Sruti said, "I am elated that for the first time, my hard work has been recognised at the national level."

Sruti extended hearty wishes to all on the occasion of International Women's Day with runs with the theme 'Gender Equality' this year and said in a special message to all women that instead of 'Gender Equality', women need more 'Gender Equity'. 

Women have some specific needs so if we can guarantee support to them based on their individual needs, it will go a long way in ensuring their safety and well-being, she explained. 

Sruti went on to state that there are countless divyang ladies in Odisha who continue to struggle with myriad problems, but they can move forward in a self reliant way if provided proper education, skill development, easy loan and marketing linkages.