As many as 29 Children have been conferred the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar this year, selected from all regions of the country for their exceptional achievements in Innovation (7), Social Service (4), Scholastic (1), Sports (8), Art & Culture (6) and Bravery (3) categories.  There are 15 Boys and 14 Girls among the awardees belonging to 21 States and UTs.

In view of the unprecedented circumstances emerging due to COVID-19 situation in the country, it was not possible to organize a physical ceremony at New Delhi. In order to felicitate and motivate the exceptional works of children, a function was held virtually on the occasion of National Girl Child Day today and also as part of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav. The Awardees of PMRBP 2021 and 2022 along with their parents and concerned District Magistrate of their respective district joined the event from their district Head Quarters.

During the function, Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave digital certificates to the 61 winners of PMRBP 2021 and 2022 using a Block Chain-driven technology developed by IIT Kanpur under the National Blockchain Project.

The cash prize of Rs.1,00,000/- was given to the awardees of PMRBP 2022 which was transferred online to the respective accounts of winners during the program by the  PM.

The  Prime Minister interacted virtually with the winners of PMRBP 2022. Union Women and Child Development Minister Smriti Zubin Irani and Munjpara Mahendrabhai, Minister of State were among those present on the occasion.

Interacting with Master Avi Sharma of Indore, Madhya Pradesh the Prime Minister enquired about the secret of his prolific output with regard to various aspects of Ramayana. Master Avi Sharma said that he got the inspiration by the decision of broadcasting the serial Ramayana during the lockdown. Avi also recited some couplets from his creation.

Interacting with Remona Evette Pereira from Karnataka, the Prime Minister discussed her passion for Indian Dance. He inquired about the difficulties she faced in pursuing her passion. The Prime Minister complimented her mother for ignoring her own adversities to realize her daughter’s dreams. The Prime Minister said that Remona’s achievements are much bigger than her age and told her that her art is a way of expressing the strength of the great country.

Interacting with  Puhabi Chakraborti of Tripura, the Prime Minister enquired about her COVID related innovation. She also informed the Prime Minister about her fitness app for sportspersons. The Prime Minister asked about the support she receives from the school, friends and parents in her endeavor. He asked about her balance in devoting her time to sports as well as developing innovative apps.

Interacting with Dhiraj Kumar from West Champaran, Bihar, the Prime Minister asked about the incident where he saved his younger brother from a crocodile attack. PM asked about his state of mind while saving his younger brother and how he feels after the fame he got now. The Prime Minister praised his courage and presence of mind. Dhiraj told the Prime Minister that he wants to serve the country as an Army soldier.

Interacting with Meedhansh Kumar Gupta from Punjab, the Prime Minister enquired about his achievement of creating an app for COVID issues. The Prime Minister said that in children like Meedhansh he feels that the government efforts to promote entrepreneurship are bearing fruit and a tendency to become job providers instead of being job seekers is becoming more pronounced.

Interacting with Tarushi Gaur from Chandigarh, the Prime Minister enquired about her opinion on the balance between sports and studies. The Prime Minister asked why Tarushi idolises Boxer Mary Kom. She informed the Prime Minister that she likes her because of her commitment to excellence and balance that she strikes as a sportsperson and as a mother.

The Prime Minister said that the government is committed to providing all the facilities to the sportspersons and creating a mindset of winning at every level.

Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister noted that these awards become all the more significant in the light of the fact that they have been conferred during the important period when the country is celebrating Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav. He said this is the time to draw energy from the past and dedicate oneself to achieving great results in the coming 25 years of the Amrit kaal. He also greeted the daughters of the country on National Girl Child Day. The Prime Minister remembered the glorious history of the Freedom Struggle and the contribution of Birbala Kanaklata Barua, Khudiram Bose and Rani Gaidinilu. “These fighters had made the country’s freedom the mission of their lives at a very young age and had dedicated themselves for it” the Prime Minister noted.

AWARDEES OF PRADHAN MANTRI RASHTRIYA BAL PURASKAR-2022

Name                                   Category                       State

Gauri  Maheshwari                Art & Culture                Rajasthan

Remona Evette Pereira         Art & Culture                Karnataka

Deviprasad                             Art & Culture                Kerala

Syed Fateen Ahmed              Art & Culture                Karnataka

Daulas Lambamayum           Art & Culture                Manipur

Dhritishman Chakraborty     Art & Culture                Assam

Gurugu Himapriya                 Bravery                         Andhra Pradesh

Shivangi Kale                         Bravery                         Maharashtra

Dhiraj Kumar                          Bravery                         Bihar

Shivam Rawat                        Innovation                  Uttarakhand

Vishalini N C                           Innovation                 Tamil Nadu

Jui Abhijit Keskar                   Innovation                  Maharashtra

Puhabi Chakraborti               Innovation                  Tripura

Aswatha Biju                          Innovation                  Tamil Nadu

Banita Dash                            Innovation                 Odisha

Tanish Sethi                           Innovation                  Haryana

Avi Sharma                             Scholastic                 Madhya Pradesh

Meedhansh Kumar Gupta    Social Service               Punjab

Abhinav Kumar Choudhary  Social Service               Uttar Pradesh

Pal Sakshi                     Social Service                       Bihar

Aakarsh Kaushal           Social Service                      Haryana

Arushi Kotwal               Sports                                   Jammu & Kashmir

Shriya Lohia                           Sports                          Himachal Pradesh

 Telukunta Virat Chandra      Sports                           Telangana

Chandhary Singh Choudhary         Sports                            Uttar Pradesh

Jiya Rai                          Sports                            Uttar Pradesh

Swayam Patil                         Sports                            Maharashtra

 Tarushi Gaur                         Sports                            Chandigarh

Anvi Vijay Zanzarukia  Sports                            Gujarat