Why in News?

=> On the occasion of International Women's Day on March 8, 2022, President Ram Nath Kovind awarded Nari Shakti Puraskar to 29 women who have done exceptional work towards women empowerment. It also includes Batul Begum, a Mand and Bhajan folk song singer from Rajasthan.

Key Points:

=> The President presented the Nari Shakti Puraskar to 29 women at a special function held at Rashtrapati Bhavan. For the years 2020 and 2021, 14-14 awards were given and one award was given jointly to two women.

=> These awards are given to women who have done remarkable work in the field of entrepreneurship, agriculture, innovation, social work, art, handicrafts, wildlife conservation, linguistics, merchant navy, education, literature, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) and rights of persons with disabilities.

=> For recognition of Indian folk music at the international level, Rajasthan's Mand and Bhajan folk singer Batul Begum was honored with the Nari Shakti Puraskar.

=> It is noteworthy that women who have done exceptional and outstanding work towards the empowerment of weak and marginalized women are honored with Nari Shakti Puraskar every year. The Nari Shakti Puraskar ceremony of 2020 could not be held due to the Corona epidemic.

=> On the other hand, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya honored women health workers of Rajasthan, Kaushalya ANM Sanganer, Jaipur and Sunita Mahiya ANM CHC Makrana, Nagaur, by presenting them a citation and a memento for their outstanding contribution in the work of Kovid vaccination.

=> It is noteworthy that health worker Kaushalya got more than 76 thousand people vaccinated, while ANM Sunita Mahiya got more than 74 thousand people vaccinated against Kovid, which is a record achievement in the country.