National Bravery Awards for 21 children

A 10-year-old girl, who saved several lives during a grenade attack in Imphal, and a 13-year-old boy, who rescued over 50 people during a stampede in Himachal Pradesh are among the 21 children conferred with the National Bravery Awards for 2009.

The announcement in this regard was made by Indian Council for Child Welfare President Gita Siddharth in New Delhi on Monday.

Two out of the 21 awards would be given posthumously.

The children will receive the award from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on January 21 and will be part of the Republic Day parade.

The coveted Bharat Award will be given to Gaurav Singh Saini, 13, of Haryana for saving over 50 people in a stampede in the Naina Devi temple in 2008 in Himachal Pradesh.

The prestigious Sanjay Chopra and Geeta Chopra bravery awards will be conferred on 11 year-old Karan Nishad from Uttar Pradesh for saving five persons from drowning and 10-year-old Maibam Priti Devi, who saved several lives when miscreants hurled grenades inside her shop in Imphal.

UP's Ranu Mishra, 10, will get the Bapu Gaidhani award posthumously for saving two children from drowning and 17-year-old Narendrasinh Natwarsinh Solanki from Gujarat will get the award for saving his father from a crocodile.

Vijith V from Kerala will receive the Bapu Gaidhani award for saving four children from drowning.

Deepak Kumar Kori from Uttar Pradesh will be given the Bapu Gaidhani award posthumously for exhibiting rare grit in trying to save a drowning girl in his village.

Other recipients of the award include Uddesh R Ramnathkar from Goa, Thoi Thoi Khumanthem from Manipur, Zonunsanga and Lalrammawia from Mizoram, Amal Antony, Krishnapriya and Sujith Kumar from Kerala.

Rekha Kalindi, Afsana Khatun and Sunita Mahato from West Bengal, Dijekshon Syiem from Meghalaya, Vaishaliben Solanki from Gujarat and Yogesh Jangid will also receive the award.

The awardees, who will receive a medal, certificate and cash, are selected by a committee comprising representatives of various ministries, non-governmental organisations and ICCW members.

Eligible awardees are also granted financial assistance until they complete their schooling. Since its inception in 1957, the bravery awards have been given to 777 children, including 554 boys and 223 girls.