This year, President Draupadi Murmu conferred the “Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar” instituted by the Ministry of Women and Child Development to 11 exceptional children.
A book on Baal Veer “Young Heroes of India” was also released during the ceremony by Smt. Smriti Zubin Irani and she also presented the first copy to the President of India.
The categories for this year’s award ceremony cover the fields which are primarily related to character-building and the overall development of society and culture.
The President of India Droupadi Murmu stated that by conferring the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar 2023 upon the children, we are encouraging and honouring their contribution towards nation-building.
The categories for today’s award ceremony cover the fields which are primarily related to character-building and the overall development of society and culture.
The President of India stated that philanthropy has been given the highest place in India’s life values. The life of those who live only for themselves is incomplete. Life is meaningful only for those who live for others. The feeling of love for the entire humanity and the cultural tradition of taking care of animals, birds and plants is very much a part of Indian life values. She stated that it made her happy to see that today’s children are more environmentally conscious.
Children should always keep in mind that whatever they are doing should not have a negative impact on the environment. She urged all to plant more and more trees and protect the trees.
Save energy and motivate elders also for this, she said. The country which has such talented children will definitely be at the forefront. She stated that meeting these talented children strengthens her belief in the golden future of India.
In the year 2047, when the countrymen will be celebrating the centenary of independence, these promising children will be shouldering larger responsibilities. She said that they have to make efforts from today itself for India in the year 2047 to be a developed and prosperous nation.
Smriti Zubin Irani while speaking on the occasion said that in line with the vision of giving children a safe and happy environment, the Ministry of Women and Child Development organizes the Pradhan Mantri Bal Puraskar every year to honour children for their outstanding performance in different arenas.
This award ceremony is amongst our most treasured occasions as it reflects our commitment to providing children with an atmosphere where they can imbibe good values and principles and become responsible citizens of our country.
On January 24, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also interacted with Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar (PMRBP) awardees at his residence.
PM Modi presented souvenirs to all the awardees and discussed their achievements on a one-to-one basis, which was followed by interaction with the entire group. He engaged in an open-hearted interaction in an informal setting. The children asked him various questions about the challenges they face and sought his guidance on a variety of topics.
PM Modi suggested the awardees to start by solving small problems, gradually build capacity, enhance capability and develop confidence to solve bigger problems as they go ahead in life. Discussing the issue of mental health and problems faced by children, he talked about tackling stigma around the issue and the important role of family in tackling such issues.
Several other topics were also taken up by the Prime Minister during the interaction, including the benefits of playing Chess, taking up art & culture as a career, research & innovation, spirituality, among others.
Aadithya Suresh has shown remarkable resilience. He was diagnosed with a bone disorder but he is not one to have a low morale. He pursued singing and is now a talented singer. He has performed in over 500 programmes.
M Gauravi Reddy is a prolific dancer. She has been performing at various programmes and is very passionate about Indian culture.
Sambhab Mishra is a very creative youngster. He has numerous articles to his credit and is also the recipient of prestigious fellowships.
Shreya Bhattacharjee is a tabla artist who has a record for playing the Tabla for the longest duration. She has also been honoured at forums like the Cultural Olympiad of Performing Arts.
Rohan Ramchandra Bahir jumped into a river and saved a woman from drowning. He displayed great bravery and fearlessness.
Aditya Pratap Singh Chauhan has been awarded the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar for his strides in innovation. He has been working on developing a cost effective technology for ensuring clean water.
Rishi Shiv Prasanna is passionate about developing Apps. He is equally interested in science as well as popularising it among the youth.
Anoushka Jolly have shown remarkable compassion and innovation. She is diligently working on an App and other online programmes to spread awareness against bullying.
Hanaya Nisar has represented India in various martial arts competitions. She has won various laurels.
Shauryajit Ranjitkumar Khaire won immense admiration for his success in the 2022 National Games. He is a powerhouse of talent when it comes to Mallakhamb.
Meet Kumari Kolagatla Alana Meenakshi is a distinguished chess player. Her successes in chess have made her shine in various competitions globally.
What is National Child Award?
The National Child Award is given every year by the Central Government to encourage and recognize the achievements of children who have achieved achievements in various fields like art, bravery, science, innovation etc. It was started in the year 1996.
The award given this year includes children from 11 states and union territories. There are six boys and five girls in it. This time, 4 children from the field of art and culture, 1 in bravery, 2 in innovation, 1 in social work and 3 in sports are being given this award.
Selection Process
Every year, the Government of India acknowledges the exceptional achievement of children in the age group of 5 to 18 years by conferring the ‘Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar (PMRBP)’ upon them.
The awards are given to children for their achievements in 06 categories namely; Art & Culture, Bravery, Innovation, Scholastic, Social Service and Sports which deserve national recognition.
Each awardee receives a medal, a cash prize of Rs. 1,00,000/-, a certificate and a citation.
List of Awardees (Art and Culture)
- Master Aditya Suresh
- Kumari Gauravi Reddy
- Shreya Bhattacharjee
- Sambhav Mishra
List of Awardees (Bravery)
- Rohan Ramchandra Bahir
List of Awardees (Innovation)
- Aditya Pratap Singh Chauhan
- Rishi Shiv Prasanna
List of Awardees (Social Service)
- Anoushka Jolly
List of Awardees (Sports)
- Hanaya Nisar
- Kolagatla Alana Meenakshi
- Shauryajit Ranjit Kumar Khaire
