A total of twenty five children have been selected for the National Bravery Awards 2016, four of which have been given posthumously. Eight year old Late Tarh Peeju of Arunachal Pradesh will be conferred the coveted Bharat Award for sacrificing her life in an attempt to save two of her friends. Teenager Tejasweeta Pradhan, 18, and Shivani Gond, 17, both from West Bengal, have been chosen for the Geeta Chopra Award for helping the police and the NGO uncover an international sex racket.
Sumit Mamgain of Uttarakhand has been given the Sanjay Chopra Award for displaying outstanding bravery in fighting a leopard to save his cousin. Late Roluahpuii, 13, of Mizoram, Tushar Verma, 15, of Chattisgarh, and H Lalhriatpuii, 14, of Mizoram will receive the Bapu Giadhani Award. The children were selected by a high powered committee made up of representatives of various Ministeries/Departments, non-governmental organisations, and office bearers of Indian Council of Child Welfare. All of them will receive their awards from Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 23, and will participate in the Republic Day parade. Awardees will receive a medal, certificate, and cash, each. President Pranab Mukherjee, several dignitaries, and states will later host receptions and functions in their honour.
Other recipients include Praful Sharma of Himachal Pradesh, Sonu Mali of Rajasthan, Akshita Sharma, Akshit Sharma, Naman, all from Delhi, Anshika Pandey of Uttar Pradesh, Nisha Dilip Patil of Maharashtra, Siya Vamansa Khode of Karnataka, Moirangthem Sadananda Singh of Manipur, Binil Manjaly, Adithyan M.P. Pillai, Akhil K. Shibu and Badarunnisa K.P. all from Kerala, Tankeswar Pegu of Assam, Neelam Dhruv of Chhattisgarh, Thanghilmang Lunkim of Nagaland, Mohan Sethy of Odisha and Late Payal Devi of Jammu & Kashmir.
Initiated by the ICCW, the National Bravery Award Scheme is given in recognition to children who distinguish themselves by performing outstanding deeds of bravery and meritorous service. Eligible awardees will be granted financial assistance until they complete their schooling. Since 1957, 945 children have been awarded, including 669 boys and 276 girls.
