HTspecial
Dr Laxmi Gautam, an Associate Professor by profession, has made difference in the lives of needy women and has worked to bring justice to them, helping them get basic needs of life in Vrindavan, which is now called “City of Widows”. She has become their daughter and son both, as even after their death, they are given last rites by her so that they can achieve salvation. In memory of her mother-in-law, she founded an organization which is efficiently working to help underprivileged women and children get their basic needs. Be it fight against female foeticide or infanticide, or education of children, or abuse of women and children, Dr Laxmi is always on her toes. Nidhi Dubey personifies a woman who has fought adversity and emerged triumphant. Hailing from Bina, a small town in Madhya Pradesh’s Sagar Division, she is the state’s first veer nari to clear the rigorous drilling at the Officers’ Training Academy, Chennai and pass with flying colours to become a commissioned officer of the Army Ordnance Corps in Jhansi. When she boarded the train at Bhopal for Chennai, the journey was a culmination of a seven-year-long struggle. Initially while training at OTA, Nidhi surmounted many problems. She overcame despondency and separation from her kid Suyash. Nidhi sacrificed her comfortable life to toil and become an officer. Pushpa, a recipient of Rani Laxmi Bai Bravery Award, is famous for her courage in the area.
She received a cash award of Rs 1 lakh and a certificate for her bravery from chief minister Yogi Adityanath on March 29, 2018 at Lok Bhawan, Lucknow. On March 7, 2018, Sunita and her daughter Savitri (4) had gone to attend the call of nature when a hyena pounced on her daughter. Pushpa took it on with the pot in which she was carrying water. She sustained grievous injuries on her hands but continued to fight with it.
When she raised an alarm, people from nearby areas rushed to the spot after which the hyena ran away. Hailing from a small town of Uttar Pradesh where girls are not given proper education and are married off at an early age, Neha decided to break the stereotypes. She was an NCC cadet in her college and got C certificate in NCC. While doing her Masters, she joined the Indian Army and went to Officers Training Academy (OTA) in Chennai. This tough training schedule made her a strong army woman. She took commission in 2012 and got posted in North East. She was awarded Special Service Medal with Clasp ‘Suraksha’ ‘(OP RHINO)’ and Sainya Seva Medal with Clasp ‘Bengal-Assam’ for service in counter insurgency. She is serving as a captain in Corps of Signals in elite Garud Division. Sunita, fought with a leopard for about 20 minutes to save her daughter from the jaws of the big cat in the vicinity of the Katarniyaghat wildlife sanctuary (KWS). The state government also acknowledged her bravery and courage. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath awarded her Rani Laxmi Bai Bravery award on March 29 in Lucnkow. Sunita, a resident of Rajaramtand Karikot village under Nishangara forest range of the KWS was serving dinner when a leopard attacked her daughter Laxmi (10) on October 16, 2011. Listening to the screams, Sunita took on the leopard and fought with a stick. The struggle continued for about 20 minutes after which the leopard fled towards forest. Aarti Singh looks after 32 malnourished children. In the last 3 months, she organized 8 programs related to malnutrition. For the ease of children, she has set up “Shishumaitri Shauchalay”, thereby promoting cleanliness and hygiene. She has helped 5 families with the job card and 31 families with the ration card. She has also made regular visits to 30 families, thereby ensuring their welfare. There are 29 families having malnourished children which now enjoy proper sanitation and hygiene. Various programs are launched by Aarti Singh with the committee of VHND, namely Rajya Nutrition Mission, Sabri Yojna, weight measure, vaccination, cleanliness and proper food.