UP’s Nazia to be honoured with Bravery Award
AGRA: Eighteen-year-old Nazia has made the Taj City and all of Uttar Pradesh proud once again. She is the only representative from the state among 18 brave youngsters who will be honoured with the National Bravery Award by the prime minister in New Delhi on January 24.
Nazia, who prefers to go by single name, will be conferred with the ‘Bharat Award’ for her prolonged and ongoing fight against the malpractices of gambling and betting.
Not only that -- along with 11 boys and six other girls, Nazia will also take part in the Republic Day parade in an open jeep. Her family told HT that she left Agra for the national capital on January 16.
However, bravery awards are nothing new for this spunky girl, who resides in Mantola locality of the city and has been struggling to rid the area of gamblers, betters and other notorious elements.
She has earlier been decorated with the ‘Rani Laxmi Bai Bravery Award’ too among others honours.
The BA first year student of Agra college said she faced a lot of opposition when she first started her fight against betters. “The people I took on were influential. They threatened my family and me, but I decided not to bow down to pressure. Gradually, I got success in weeding out such ill practices (gambling / betting) from the place,” said Nazia, who had tweeted to the then UP chief minister Akhilesh Yadav for help when she found herself waging a lone battle.
The former CM had responded to her appeal, ensuring safety for her and her family.
“I had nothing personal against those people, but I wanted my locality to be a safe place for girls and women. While the police had their limitations, constant pressure made the difference,” claimed the braveheart, who continues her fight despite being embroiled in various litigation arising out of these conflicts.
Nazia first shot to fame in August 2015, after saving a sixyear-old girl from some youths who were trying to kidnap her.
For her valour, she was honoured with the ‘Rani Laxmi Bai Bravery Award’ in 2016 by the then UP CM Akhilesh Yadav.
She was also felicitated with an ‘Act of Saving Life’ certificate from the President house.
Later, film actor Akshay Kumar also feted Nazia during a television show.
Speaking about the incident, Nazia said, “I was returning from school when I suddenly heard the cry of a girl aged about six years. Some motorcycleborne men were trying to kidnap her.
While others chose to remain silent spectators, I rescued the girl by grabbing her. The kidnapper (driving the vehicle) lost control, and in the meantime, a mob gathered there, forcing the miscreants to flee.”
Aiming to serve the country as an IAS officer, Nazia said her goal was to improve the life of girls and make the society safer for them.
Her elder sister Shazia is proud of her achievements. “Nazia can’t stand injustice, especially when it comes to any wrong committed against women.
Then, she can fight anyone without caring about consequences,” said Shazia.