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Applications for these awards are acknowledged from Central or State government departments, Panchayats, Zila Parishads, school authorities as well as state and Union Territory councils for child welfare.
The selection is made by a committee constituted by the ICCW, comprising of representatives from the Secretariats of the President and the Vice-President, various ministries, as well as the Central Social Welfare Board, police, All India Radio, Doordarshan and leading NGOs such as the National Bal Bhavan, SOS, Children’s Villages of India, R K Mission and experienced ICCW members.
The awards are announced on November 14 (Children’s Day) and the Prime Minister presents the awards on the eve of Republic Day. The awardees receive a medal, certificate and cash as a token of their indispensable courage.
In addition to this, some of them are also granted financial assistance to complete their schooling (ICCW’s sponsorship programme) and professional courses such as medical and engineering (under the Indira Gandhi scholarship scheme). Assistance is also provided to some till they complete their graduation.
The bravery awards are one of the most prestigious civil awards in India. There are a number of different awards given under the National Bravery Awards category and these awards include:
- The Bharat Award, (incepted in 1987)
- The Sanjay Chopra Award (incepted in since 1978)
- The Geeta Chopra Award (incepted in 1978)
- The Bapu Gayadhani Award (incepted in 1988)
- The National Bravery Award (incepted in 1957)
Sanjay Chopra Award and Geeta Chopra Award are two of the most coveted awards among the National Bravery Awards. The awards were instituted in the year 1978 in the memory of the two brave Chopra children, who laid their lives while confronting their kidnappers. These two awards are presented to a boy and girl, respectively for their acts of bravery. The Bharat Award is considered the highest award among all the National Bravery Awards. This award was incepted in the year 1987 and the other prestigious award in this category, named the Bapu Gayadhani Award was started to be presented from 1988.
History of National Bravery Award
The National Bravery Award was a brainchild of India‘s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, who thought about it on 2nd October, 1957, while watching a performance at Delhi’s Ramlila grounds, at the Red Fort. An accident occurred in that programme, when a fire broke out in a Shamiana, due to a short circuit. A 14 year-old scout, named Harish Chandra reacted bravely at that time and he instantly ripped open the burning Shamiana, using his knife. This boy saved hundreds of people who were trapped inside. Pandit Nehru was stunned and inspired with the brave act of that child and he instructed the authorities to constitute an award to honour brave children from all over the country. Action was taken immediately and Harish Chandra became the first one to receive this award. The tradition has continued since then and the last award was given in the year 2009. The Government of India has also released a commemorative book titled ‘Brave Hearts’ in 2001 that features the winners of the 1999 National Bravery Awards.
Selection Process of National Bravery Award
The selection of the National Bravery Awards winners is made from the applications received from different sources like the Central or State Government departments, Panchayats, Zilla Parishad (District Councils), School Authorities and also from the State and Union Territory Councils for child welfare. The Indian Council for Child Welfare constitutes a special committee for the selection of the awardees. The committee comprises representatives from the secretariats of the President and the Vice- President, various Government Ministries and Departments and also representatives from the Central Social Welfare Board, the Indian Police, All India Radio, Doordarshan, etc. Some of the leading NGOs in India like the National Bal Bhavan, SOS Children’s Villages of India, Ramakrishna Mission, also have their representatives in the committee and the senior ICCW members also share their opinions about the selection.
Awardees of National Bravery Award
The recipients of the National Bravery Awards get a medal, a certificate and also cash award. The Bharat Awardees receive a Gold Medal, while the other awardees receive silver medals. The Government of India also provides financial aid to the awardees to complete their schooling, without any hindrances. This financial assistance is given as a part of the sponsorship programme of the Indian Council for Child Welfare and the Government of India also help the children to pursue specialized courses like medical and engineering, under the Indira Gandhi Scholarship Scheme. Reservation of some seats in Medical and Engineering Colleges and Polytechnics for the winners of the award has also been announced by the Government of India in the year 2009. Some of the recipients of the awards continue to get support from the government, till they complete their graduation.
The names of the award winning children are announced on 14th of November, every year and the children receive the award from the Prime Minister of the country, on a later date. A reception is also organised in their honour by the President of India and they take part in the Republic Day Parade at Rajpath, Delhi, on 26th January, as well.
National Bravery Awards 2020: 22 Children Who Inspired Nation With Their Actions
The list of gallant children ranges across 12 different states, among which six have been shortlisted from the Northeast, and two youths have been selected from Jammu and Kashmir. One award will be given posthumously.
The Indian Council for Child Welfare (ICCW) has shortlisted 22 children, including 10 girls and 12 boys, who will receive the National Bravery Award on January 26, Republic Day, this year.
The list of gallant children ranges across 12 different states, among which six have been shortlisted from the Northeast, and two youths have been selected from Jammu and Kashmir. One award will be given posthumously.
The government gives these awards every year to recognize the exceptional achievements of children in various fields. The winners will also get a chance to interact with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Republic Day.
Here’s the list of award winners:
- Muhammed Muhsin – The 16-year-old boy hailing from Kerala’s Kozhikode district drowned while attempting to save three of his friends from the rough sea in April last year. He has been chosen posthumously for the ICCW Abhimanyu Award.
- Adithya K – Another 15-year-old Kerala resident was conferred with the Bharat Award after he saved more than 40 lives when a bus they were travelling in caught fire in Nepal in May 2019. Adithya later told media persons that he eventually wants to join the Indian Air Force.
- Sartaj Mohidin Mugal and Mudasir Ashraf – Two youths from Jammu and Kashmir from Kupwara and Budgam respectively were awarded for performing acts of valour in the former state last year. Ashraf attempted to save Kifayat Hussain who caught fire when IAF’s Mi-17 helicopter crashed in Budgam in February 2019.
- Carolyn Malsawmtluangi – Malsawmtluangi resides in Mizoram. The girl has been conferred with the gallantry award for her presence of mind that saved a kid from being kidnapped.
- Kamal Krishna Das – In September 2018, Das jumped into the flooded Brahmaputra river in Assam to save his mother, aunt and a stranger.
- Rakhi – The ICCW Markandeya award was given to 10-year-old Rakhi, hailing from Uttarakhand, ho saved her 4-year-old brother from being attacked by a leopard. She sustained severe injuries in the act.
- Srimati Badra – 10-year-old Badra was awarded the ICCW Prahalada Award as she saved her friend who lost her right leg and nearly lost her life on railway tracks in November 2018.
Other recipients of the Bravery Award include Kanti Paikra and Bharneshwari Nirmalkar (both from Chhattisgarh), Aarti Kiran Shet and Venkatesh (both from Karnataka), Zen Sadavarte and Akash Machindra Khillare (both from Maharashtra), Purnima Giri and Sabita Giri (both from Odisha), Alaika, Lourembam Yaikhomba Mangang (Manipur), Everbloom K Nongrum (Meghalaya), Lalliansanga, and Vanlalhriatrenga (both from Mizoram).
