Nari Shakti Puraskar - National Award for Women
Category: Women and Child
Level: Central | State: All
Ministry: Ministry of Women and Child Development

Details:
The “Nari Shakti Puraskar” has been instituted by the Ministry of Women and Child Development, Government of India, to recognize outstanding contributions of women towards empowerment, especially of vulnerable and marginalized groups. The awards are announced annually by 20th February and conferred on 8th March on the occasion of International Women’s Day. The scheme aims to promote women’s participation in all spheres and highlight their role in nation-building. It also seeks to inspire citizens, particularly youth, by showcasing exemplary achievements of women.

Benefits:
Award Components: 
Certificate and a cash amount of ₹2,00,000/- per awardee.
Number of Awards:
 Maximum 15 awards.
Relaxation Provision:
 The selection committee may relax the maximum number of awards at its discretion.
Presentation of the Award:
The Award shall be presented at New Delhi at a special ceremony/ function held on the occasion of the International Women's Day on 8th March every year.
The Ministry will reimburse travel expenses by economy class by shortest route, for the awardees to and from Delhi, by Air India or any other airline as specifically permitted 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 Award ceremony) shall be arranged by the Ministry.
In special circumstances, the Ministry may also reimburse travel expenses by economy class by shortest route, for one companion of the awardee, in case the awardee belongs to any of the following categories:
Awardee is more than 70 years of age (as on date of award ceremony);
Awardee is Divyangjan or a person with disability, who cannot manage without companion's support (certificate from designated authority of State/ Central Government is required to be submitted);
Awardee belongs to BPL (Below Poverty Line) category;
Awardee is illiterate or having language barrier, and cannot manage without a companion.


Eligibility Criteria:
- The awards are open to individuals only.
  - The applicants must be at least 25 years of age on 1st July of the award year.
  - The applicant should not be a recipient of the same award earlier (including Stree Shakti Puraskars as were awarded by the Ministry earlier).
  - The Nari Shakti Puruskar may be awarded for outstanding work, preferably in exceptional circumstances, to individuals in the areas of: economic and social empowerment of women or pertaining to this theme or incidental thereto.
  - The Nari Shakti Puruskar may be awarded to individuals who encouraged women to participate in decision making roles; encouraged women&#39;s skill development in traditional and non-traditional sectors; facilitated basic amenities for rural women; promoted women in non-traditional sectors like science and technology, sports, art, culture, concretely and significantly towards safety and security, health and wellness, education, skill development, life skills, respect and dignity of women etc.
  - An award may also be given to a State or Union Territory, which has appreciably improved Child Sex Ratio (CSR).
  - Normally the awards shall not be presented posthumously; excepting in cases where death occurred subsequent to a proposal having been submitted to the Ministry in the manner as stipulated in these guidelines.

***Nominations:***
1.	Nominations for the award shall be invited from:

  - State Governments, Union Territory Administrations, concerned Central Ministries/ Departments.
  - Non-Governmental Organizations, Universities/ Institutions, Private and Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs).
  - The Selection Committee may also, suo-moto, recommend an individual for the award with sufficient justification.
  - Self-nominations &amp; recommendations for the awards, both, shall be considered.

2.	The Nominations would be submitted to the Ministry of Women and Child Development with details as per online application form along with supporting documents as mentioned in the application form.
3.	The entities as recommending the nominations should clearly certify the work carried out by the nominees for which the award is being recommended.