Vice President to give away Bravery Awards in place of PM

With Prime Minister Manmohan Singh being indisposed, Vice President Hamid Ansari will give away this year's Bravery Awards on Friday.

The awards are being given to 19 children who have shown exceptional bravery.

The awards are traditionally given away by the Prime Minister but since Singh is hospitalised, a decision was taken that the conferment would be done by the Vice President in his place, government sources said.

Among the bravehearts is 13 year-old Saumik Misra of Uttar Pradesh, who has been selected for the Sanjay Chopra award for having fought two goons single-handedly to foil a theft attempt.

The Geeta Chopra award has been conferred on 10-year-old Prachi Santosh Sen of Madhya Pradesh who saved four children from getting electrocuted. Prachi's left hand was severely burnt and the fingers had to be amputated.

All the awardees will participate in the Republic Day parade.