New Delhi: President Ram Nath Kovind conferred “Nari Shakti Puraskar” to 16 women achievers of the year 2019, on the occasion of the International Women’s Day on Sunday at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Women pilots Mohana Jitarwal, Avani Chaturvedi and Bhavana Kanth awarded “Nari Shakti Puraskar” for the Indian Air Forces first to take a solo flight in MIG-21 in 2018.

104 year old Mann Kaur, ‘Miracle from Chandigarh’ received the award for her achievement in athletics. She has bagged over 30 medals in track and field events across the globe.

Padala Bhudevi (Telangana) received “Nari Shakti Puraskar” for her work for the development of tribal women and widows through a community based organization CAVS.

Rashmi Urdhwardeshe received the award for the development of automobile technologies in India.

Arfa Jan (Srinagar) received award for her attempts to revive the culture and heritage of Jammu and Kashmir.

96 year old Karthiyani Amma and 105 year old Bhageerathi Amma were jointly awarded the “Nari Shakti Puraskar” by the President on Sunday for their contribution towards women’s empowerment. They have become role models for thousands of people who wish to be part of the literacy programmes. Karthiyani Amma had topped “Akshara Laksham” a flagship programme of the Kerala State Literacy Mission Authority in 2018 scoring 98/ 100 marks. Bhageerathi Amma had cleared the fourth standard equivalency examination becoming the oldest equivalency course student of the Kerala State Literacy Mission.

Charmi Murmu, Jharkhand known as ‘Lady Tarzan’, was another awardee who successfully planted more than 25 lakh trees with the Forest Department and has actively worked towards protecting local wildlife.

Nilza Wangmo, Ladakh “a restaurateur for Ladakhi Cuisines received the award.

Bihar’s ‘Mushroom Mahila’ Bina Devi, Kalavathi Devi taking substantial step to create awareness regarding the ills of open defecation in Kanpur.

First female twins to scale Mount Everest in 2013, Tashi and Nungshi Malik were also presented with the award. They are the founders of Nungshi Tashi Foundation which aims to develop mountaineering as sport and empower girls.

Kaushiki Chakroborty, a Sangeet Natak Akademi in 2010 awardee, was also honoured with the “Nari Shakti Puraskar” on Sunday.