Maharashtra's Ten Heroes and PWD Nashik conferred National
Awards
New Delhi, Dec
3: Maharashtra's Ten heroes and the office of Public
Works Department of Nashik, were Conferred with the 'National Awards on the
International Day of Persons with Disabilities' today. These Awards were
conferred by the President, Shri Ramnath Kovind at Vigyan Bhavan here today.
On the occasion of International Day of Persons with Disabilities', the Ministry
of Social Justice and Empowerment had organised the National Awards on
Individuals, Institutions, Organization, State/District for their outstanding
achievements and work towards Empowerment of person with disabilities.
Present of the occasion were Union Minister of Social Justice and
EmpowermentDr. Viendra Kumar, Union MoS Ramdas Athavale, Shri Narayan Swami and
Smt. Pratima Bhoumik and officials of all concerned departments.
Maharashtra’s ten personalities were conferred with prestigious National Award
under various categories. The names include:
Dr. Poonam Annasaheb Upadhye, Ms Nikita Vasant Raut, Rajesh Asudani, Sagar Rajiv Badve, Prathamesh Yashwant Date,
Ms. Devanshi Anil Joshi, Dr.Priti Diliprao Pohekar, Ms.Neha Nalin Pawaskar, Devdatta
Ravasahab Mane and Ms.Sakina Sandeep Bedi. The PWD Nashik also received the
Awards for creation of barrier free Environment for disabled people.
The exemplary work done by the different
individuals in different spheres has been outstanding and they were here to
receive this Awards.
Dr.
Poonam Annasaheb Upadhye
Dr.
Poonam Annasaheb Upadhye was conferred with the National Award for Best Self-Employed
(Locomotor Disability) category.
Dr.
Upadhye, 41 years old, hails from Sangli District and has Locomotor Disability
of 50% since birth. Despite the disability, she did not lose courage and
completed education with hard work and dedication. She did Bachelor of Ayuvedic
Medicine and Surgery followed by MD, PGPP and PGDEMS. She is self-employed and
is earning a handsome salary. She is also actively involved in social service
by providing free medical check ups for students of schools in the neighboring
areas of her home.
Ms
Nikita Vasant Raut
Ms
Nikita Vasant Raut was conferred with the National Award for Best Employee
(Visual Impairment) for her accomplishments in academics and in service.
Ms
Raut 36 years old, hails from Mumbai, has visual disability
of 100%. Despite this, she was a bright student and excelled in academics. Her
achievements include MBA, Masters of Management Studies, Qualified UGC NET,
CAIIB, and Diploma in HR, Sangeet Visharad, and Sangeet Bhaskar. She is working
as an Assistant General Manager (in the Senior Management Grade V) in the Bank
of Baroda. She is the first blind employee to reach the yougent Assistant
General Manager in Bank of Baroda.
Rajesh
Asudani
The
National Award in the category of Role Model (Visual Impairment) was conferred
on Shri Rajesh Asudani, for his outstanding achievements in academics and
professional fields.
Shri
Asudani, 65 years old, has 100% visual impairment since birth. He has done MA
(English), LLM, M.Sc (Applied Psychology). He is a poet, writer and social
worker. He has received 19 gold Medals in LLB and MA. He cleared NET in
English, Law and Psychology subjects. He has Published books such as 'Adhura
Asmaan 'and anthology of Ghazals in Hindi and Urdu languages. He works as an
Assistant General Manager in the Reserve Bank of India, Nagpur.
Sagar
Rajiv Badve
For
his inspiring achievements, the National Award under the Role Model (Hearing
Impairment) category, was conferred on Shri Sagar Rajiv Badve. He hails
from Aurangabad District.
Shri
Badve, 32 years old, has hearing impairment of 100% since birth. He has done
BCA, B.P.Ed, M.P.Ed, NIS Diploma in Swimming from Sports Authority of India. He
participated a number of times in the National level and other championships
and won 80 medals. He has participated in 2 international swimming meets
(Gibraltar strait from Spain to Morocco and Zurich lake competition.) He has
been awarded with the Shiv Chhatrapati State Sports Awards by Govt. of
Maharashtra for the year 2019
Prathamesh
Yashwant Date
Shri
Prathamesh Yashwant Date was conferred with the National Award under the
category of Intellectual disability for his incredible achievements.
Shri
Date, 34 years old, hails from Ichalkaranji, Kolhapur and has intellectual
disability of 50% since birth. He passed 9th standard and is working as Library
Attendant for the last 10 years. He has also received a National Award in the
Category of Most Efficient Employee in 2010 from the MoSJ & E. A film
titled "Tale of a half chic" has been produced on him. He was
associated with a documentary titled "Raisingthe Bar" which won
Hollywood International Independent documentary Award of Recognition, in 2016.A
Book in Marathi on Prathamesh-' Katha Ghadcenay Hatanchi" has been
published which has been translated in other languages as well.
Ms. Devanshi Anil Joshi
Ms. Devanshi Anil Joshi
was conferred the National Award under the category of Role Model (Intellectual
disability) for her outstanding achievements. Originally from Nagpur, presently
she works in the Fashion Department of Big Bazar in Delhi.
Ms. Joshi, 27 years old, has 50% intellectual disability since birth. She has
passed 12th class and done various certificate courses in photography, dance,
music, painting, computer, yoga and fitness. She has been active in various
spheres of life, having successfully overcome the challenges. She is
working with Future group's Big Bazaar as a regular employee with intellectual
and developmental disabilities. She was given the National Award for most
Efficient Employee, and in the campaign for Accessible and Inclusive
Election 2020, the Election Commission of India made Ms Devanshi Anil Joshi as
its Icon.
Dr. Priti Diliprao Pohekar
Dr.Priti Diliprao Pohekar was
conferred with the National Award under Role Model (Locomotor Disability) for
her versatility and glorious achievements and having made a guiding force for
persons with disabilities (Divyangjan).
She is 47 years old, and hails from
Latur and has locomotor disability of
100% since birth. She has done Ph.D and started working as a lecturer in 2001
and Associate Professor.Despite her disability, she with her strong determination
has excelled in academics. She had presented papers and authored a number of
reference books in Marathi as also in English.
Ms. Neha Nalin Pawaskar
The
National Award in the category of Role Model (Visual Impairment) was conferred
on Ms.Neha Nalin Pawaskar, for her outstanding achievements in the fields of
sports and adventure activities. She hails from Mumbai.
She
is 53 years old and has visual impairment of 100% since she was 8 years. She
has done B.A.(Sociooogy). She is working as a Telephone Operator, Government of
Maharashtra. She has been a sportsperson and participated in various sporting
events such as Shotput, Discuss Throw, Valley crossing and rappelling events.
She is the first blind lady in India to attempt several adventure feats which
are world Records.
Devdatta Ravasaheb Mane
The
National Award in the category of Role Model (Locomotor Disability) was conferred
on Devdatta Ravasahab Mane, for his outstanding achievements in the fields of
sports and social work.
Shri
Mane, 38 years old, hails from Kolhapur and has 86% locomotor disability since
he was 3. Shri Mane has done BA (Socialogy). He founded an organisation named Pragati
Apang Audyogik Sahakari Sanstha for the welfare and rights of persons with
disabilities. He participated in sports for more than 10 years and won 3rd
place in Paralympics, sitting Senior Volleyball National Competition 2009.
Ms.Sakina Sandeep Bedi
Ms
Sakina Sandeep Bedi was conferred National Award in the Category of Best
Individual (Professional) working for the cause of Persons with Disabilities. She
works for the empowerment of persons with disabilities despite being herself a
person with 100% visual disability
Ms.
Bedi, 53 years old, hails from Pune, is a 100% visually impaired person since
birth. She has done MA (Social Work) with specialisation in Medical and
Psychiatric Social Work from Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai. She
started her career as a Project Officer and later joined National Federation of
the Blind Maharashtra’s Jagriti School for Blind Girls in the capacity of
Project Director in 1998. She is working for the empowerment of persons with
visual impairment for the last 22 years.
Ms. Vaishnavi Vinayak
Sutar
Ms. Vaishnavi Vinayak Sutar was conferred with
the National Award in the Category of Best Sport Person with disabilities, for
her outstanding performance in sports. A 37 year old Vaishnavi hails from Kolhapur and become 65% locomotor
disable (Muscular Dystrophy) when she was in class 12th. A very determined and confident athlete, she
regularly participates in National and International Table Tennis Championship
events and has many medals to her credit. Holding world ranking number 17, she
has been awarded with Maharashtra Government’s Shiv Chhatrapati Award in Para
Table Tennis.
PWD Nashik
The
National Award 2020 for Creation of Barrier Free Environment was conferred on
the Public Works Department, Nashik.
Public
Works Department, Nashik has modified all the toilets considering standards for
disabled and elderly persons. A non glare multilingual signages of different
sizes having braille script are proposed from entrance of premises to reception,
main offices cabins & Toilets. The exemplary work was done by the Public
Works Department, Nashik in the creation of barrier free environment for
persons with disabilities in the PWD Buildings thereby ensuring movement
barrier free for persons with disabilities.
A
total of 59 Awards were conferred in 13 different categories across the
country. The Awardees were presented with a Citation, Medal and some were given
a cash prize as well.
