Children, who displayed exemplary courage and presence of mind under highly adverse circumstances, were honoured on 69th Republic Day on Friday.

Among the 18 children decorated with the National Bravery Awards 2017, seven were girls and 11 boys. Three of these bravehearts were awarded posthumously.

Kumari Nazia from Agra in Uttar Pradesh was awarded the Bharat Award for her brave and daring effort to take on the onerous task of challenging the illegal business of gambling and betting that was rampant for decades in her neighbourhood.

An undaunted Nazia collected related evidences and informed police, as a result four people were arrested and the illegal gambling business was stopped. She faced and endured threats to her life, informing the administrative officials and tweet to the Chief Minister for help.

Among those who were awarded posthumously was Kumari Netravati M Chavan from Karnataka awarded with Geeta Chopra Award. She without fearing for her life jumped into a pond filled due to rain to save the lives of two boys who were drowning. She braved the water and pulled one of them to safety while in her bid to rescue other she suffocated as the panicked boy gripped her neck. Unfortunately, both lost their lives.

Sanjay Chopra Award was awarded to Karanbeer Singh of Punjab, who in an extraordinary show of courage saved the lives 15 children from school bus drowning in a drain. Other recipients were loukrakpam Rajeshwori Chanu (posthumous) of Manipur, lalchhandama (posthumous) of Mizoram , Mamata Dalai, Odisha and several others.