Snake rescuer to innovator: 29 get Nari Shakti awards

NEW DELHI: Widowed at 40, Jodhaiya Bai

Baiga

started learning the “Baiga” tribal art form at the age of 70. On Tuesday, Jodhaiya, whose artworks have been displayed in exhibitions at renowned galleries in France and Italy, was one of 29 women who walked down the red carpet at Durbar Hall at Rashtrapati Bhawan to receive the “Nari Shakti Puraskar” from President of India Ram Nath Kovind.

On the list of women achievers recognised on International Women's Day, are innovators, tribal artists working painstakingly to preserve their heritage, and social workers empowering survivors of abuse and those on the margins of society.

Vanita Jagdeo Borade from Buldana in Maharashtra is India’s first woman snake rescuer who rescued and released 50,000 snakes.

The citation of Nasira Akhter, a grassroots innovator from Kulgam in Kashmir refers to her as the “first Indian woman to convert polythene to ashes,” a biodegradable product that does not pollute the environment.

Another innovator among the awardees is Bengaluru-based Intel India country head Nivruti Rai. She built a platform for diagnostics and analytics based on AI, genomic and comorbidities to combat Covid-19.

The ceremony brought focus on tribal artisans when Jaya Muthu and

Tejamma

from Nilgiris in Tamil Nadu came forward to recieve their award. They hail from the vulnerable tribal group, the pastoral Toda tribals. The intricate Toda embroidery is an art work exclusively done by the women of this tribe.

Women with disabilities too made their presence felt as

Saylee Nandkishor Agavane

from Pune walked up to recieve her award. A Kathak dancer, she has not allowed Down Syndrome to come in the way of achieving her dreams.

Radhika Menon, the first woman captain of Indian merchant navy, from Kerala was awarded for her courage. She is known for the rescue operation in June 2015 which saved the lives of seven fishermen trapped for a week in a boat.

Tage Rita Takhe from Arunachal Pradesh was awarded for establishing “Naara Aaba”, India’s first organic Kiwi wine with an annual capacity of approximately 60,000 litres and a turnover of Rs 4.5 crore.

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