International Women’s Day:President of India Shrimati Pratibha Devisingh Patil Gives away Stree Shakti Puraskar 2011 in New Delhi

. The President, Smt. Patil was speaking on the occasion of International Womens Day celebrations at Vigyan Bhawan in the national capital. Smt. Patil gave away Stree Shakti Puraskar 2011 to 6 women who immensely contributed in the social educational and economical upliftment of women in various sectors. Ms. Hypno Padma Kamlakar (Andhra Pradesh) was awarded Devi Ahilyabai Holkar Award. Ms. Hypno Padma has done her post graduation in sociology. She became the first women Hypnotist and psychologist to practice counselling and has conducted more than 1500 programmes across the country. Ms. Kanwaljit Kaur (Chandigarh) was given Kannagi Award for providing hope, guidance and counselling to blind girls. Ms. Jagmati Malik (Haryana) was given Mata Jijabai Award for women empowerment by organising self help groups on various issues including Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, MGNREGA, female foeticide, total sanitation and Right to Information. Ms. Draupadi Ghimiray (Sikkim) was conferred Rani Gaidinliu Zeliang Award for working for children with disability. Ms. Sandhya Pandey (Chhattisgarh) was conferred Rani Laxmibai Award for boldly facing enormous adversities in life after losing her eyesight in 1999. Ms. Rakhee Gupta Bhandari (New Delhi) was conferred Rani Rudramma Devi Award for outstanding contribution in getting women in the mainstream by encouraging women Sarpanches to appear in public offices.