Vizag girl presented with Bal Shakti Puraskar 2021 by the District Collector

Updated Date: 1/25/2022

Category: vizag news

Vizag District Collector, Dr Mallikarjuna IAS, presented the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Shakti Puraskar Award 2021, also known as Bal Puraskar Award, to 13 year old Ameya Lagudu. She was one among the thirty-two awardees for the Bal Puraskar Award in 2021.

The Vizag girl was presented with the Bal Puraskar Award on 24 January, 2022 in a function held at the Visakhapatnam District Collectorate office. Ameya has received this award for her achievement in Indian classical dance. Studying in the ninth standard at Sri Sathya Sai Vidhya Vihar in Visakhapatnam. Every year in the month of August the nominations for this award are collected. The Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Shakti Puraskar is a civilian honour awarded to children below 18 years.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised Ameya at the event through a video conference. Speaking on the occasion, the Collector said that children must get inspired by Ameya and excel like her in extracurricular activities from childhood. The award recipients used to take part in the Republic Day Parade every year in New Delhi. Due to the COVID-19 situation in the country, it has not been possible to hold the award ceremony in New Delhi for the past 2 years. This is the first time in the country that the Prime Minister has presented the awards for the years 2021 and 2022 digitally using blockchain technology. The District Collector presented this award on behalf of the Prime Minister. Ameya spoke with the Prime Minister through the video conference from the Vizag Collectorate office after receiving the Bal Puraskar Award. In response to the Prime Ministers request, she said that she would strive to take Indian classical dance forms to new heights and also impart this education to future generations so that Indian arts and culture would spread across the world.

The Union Minister for Women and Child Development Smriti Zubin Irani is also present virtually along with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The District Women and Child Development officer  M. Sita Mahalakshmi, District Child Welfare Officer A. Satyanarayana, and a few others have participated in the event at the Visakhapatnam District Collectorate Office.