Nari Shakti Puraskar for 15 outstanding women

New Delhi: A lady mason, a centenarian athlete, Jharkhand's lady Tarzan and a "mushroom mahila" were among the 15 women awarded the Nari Shakti Puraskar by President Ram Nath Kovind for their contribution in acting as game changers and catalyst of positive change in the society.

The government confers the Nari Shakti Puraskar every year to recognise the relentless service of women towards the cause of women empowerment and social welfare.

The winners for the year 2019 are from fields as diverse as agriculture, sports, handicrafts, afforestation and wildlife conservation, armed forces and education.

Bina Devi, fondly known as 'Mushroom Mahila' for popularising mushroom cultivation, was one of the awardees. Devi, 43, is a mushroom grower and was 'sarpanch' of Dhauri Panchayat, Tetiabamber block for five years. Another awardee was 103-year-old Mann Kaur.

Known as 'Miracle from Chandigarh', Kaur started her athletic career at the age of 93.

The award was also conferred on Kalavati Devi, a 58-year-old lady mason, who acted as a driving force towards reducing open defecation in the district of Kanpur.

She is responsible for building over 4,000toilets in villages in and around Kanpur.

Padala Bhudevi, 40, has been working for the development of tribal women, widows, Podu lands through a community based organisation- CAVS (Chinnai Adhivasi Vikas Society), established by her father, in 1996.

Arifa Jan, 33, was awarded for reviving the lost art of Numdha handicrafts and has trained more than 100 women in Kashmir.

Chami Murmu, 47, has been awarded for her work as a passionate environmentalist. Fondly known as the 'Lady Tarzan' of Jharkhand, Murmu has been involved in planting of more than 25 lakh trees.

Nilza Wangmo, 40 is an entrepreneur, running Alchi Kitchen Restaurant, the first one to serve traditional Ladakhi cuisines.

Another awardee is Rashmi Urdhwardeshe, 60, who is automotive and R&D professional since 36 years.

Tashi and Nungshi Malik, 28, from Uttrakhand were the first female twins to scale Mt Everest in 2013.

Kaushiki Chakroborty, 38, is an Indian classical vocalist with more than 15 years of experience, and she is Khayal and Thumri exponent.

Avani Chaturvedi, 26, Bhawanna Kanth, 27, Mohana Singh Jitarwal 28, were the Indian Air Force's first women fighters.

Bhageerathi Amma, 105, and Karthyayini Amma, 98, have passed the Class IV literacy equivalent examinations. At 105 years, Bhageerathi Amma is the oldest literacy equivalent learner under Kerala State Literacy Mission.