Bhubaneswar/New Delhi: Ahead of the Republic Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday presented the National Bravery Awards 2017 to 18 selected children from across the country, including two from Odisha, at a special function held in New Delhi.
Odia kids Mamata Dalai (6) from Kendrapara district and Pankaj Kumar Mahanta (14) from Keonjhar district were awarded for their bravery to save lives of four persons in separate incidents. While Mamata rescued her elder sister from a crocodile attack, Pankaj rescued three women from being swept away in a river.
Reportedly on April 6 last year, Mamata and her elder sister Asanti had gone to a nearby pond in Dangamala village under Rajnagar block in Kendrapara to take bath. Suddenly, a crocodile pounced on Asanti and was just about to pull her into the pond, when Mamata courageously dragged her from the animal's jaws and it slipped into the pond.
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On May 22 last year, three women Baijayanti (25), Pushpalata (22) and Suchita (34) had gone to Baitarani river in Keonjhar district to bathe, when suddenly Baijayanti's foot slipped on the loose sand and she fell into the 20 feet deep and turbulent water. The other two women who tried to rescue her were also pulled and swept away by strong currents in the river. Seeing the trio in danger, Pankaj dived into the river and saved the women one by one.
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While Mamata aims to become a doctor, Pankaj wants to be a police officer in future.
Soon after the award function, President Ram Nath Kovind met all the 18 bravehearts at the Rashtrapati Bhawan where he specially praised the efforts of young Mamata for her fearless and bold action.