Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje became the first woman chief minister of an Indian state to be bestowed with a prestigious award in New York.

According to a press release issued by the state government, the UN Women Together Award was confered on her in New York on Monday.

'The award was given to Raje by Heba Abdellatif, from the Department of Political Affairs, United Nations', the press note said.

It is given to those women  who do pioneering work in the social arena and are involved in promoting peace and gender equality, the fight against poverty, and the promotion of education, art and culture.

Raje dedicated the award to the women of Rajasthan, stating in her acceptance speech that 'it was a day to remember for the women artisans of Rajasthan. My presence at the ceremony is dedicated to the enterprise and skill of women in Rajasthan'.

Outlining the successful self-help group movement in the state, she said, "Today, 1,30,000 women's self-help groups are proudly and efficiently dealing with micro-credit worth Rs 1600 million and are attending to the consumptive and economic needs of their families."

Chief Minister Raje has been selected for this award 'recognizing her understanding compassion of the miseries of the citizens of Rajasthan as well as her long-lasting dedication to social causes'.