A hundred women achievers were felicitated and invited for lunch at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi by the President of India Pranab Mukherjee on Friday. These women were honoured for their contribution to develop the society and building the nation on the first anniversary of ‘Beti Bachao, Beti padhao’ scheme. Out of the 100 proud women top achievers, there were four distinguished women from Jharkhand who have made the state and country proud with their success story.
All four of them have stayed back in New Delhi for the Republic Day celebrations and share their moment of pride with The Pioneer. Excerpts:
Sonali Mukerjee
The Bokaro girl has been awarded for her indomitable spirit and perseverance in the Women empowerment category. She is also believed to have gained the maximum votes in the same category in the online contest that was held by the Union Ministry of Women and Child Development in association with Facebook.
She was left with a disfigured face and blinded in one of the most horrifying acid attack 13 years ago, but now she has an identity of her own and needs no introduction.
A super excited Sonali, who is now happily married to Chitranjan Tewary and a state welfare department employee says she hardly finds time for herself or to even remember the horrific past after balancing work at the department, fight for other similar victims, counsel women at various NGOs and take care of her family. She gives her special thanks to Union minister for women and child development Maneka Gandhi.
"I cannot express in words how happy I am after having lunch with the President. After suffering for so many years, it is a great moment of pride for me and the most memorable day in my life. My husband has been the biggest pillar of strength in my life and I dedicate every credit to him. I will keep up the good work and keep motivating women to fight for their rights," said Mukherjee.
lady Tarzan – Jamuna Tuddu
35-year-old Jamuna Tuddu who has dedicated her entire life since childhood to save and plant trees, preserve the ecosystem and is commonly referred to as the ‘lady Tarzan’ in and around Chakulia block of Ghatshila had the honour of having lunch with the President.
She has been felicitated for her outstanding fight in patrolling the forests in her area under the Van Suraksha Samiti that she founded along with other six women a few years back in the Environment category. Armed with stones, lathis, bows and arrows, the lady Tarzan has been successful in keeping the timber mafia away.
“I am extremely proud to share this great moment of success with you and everyone here in the national capital. This has been a big opportunity and recognition for me and my group for our hard work. We should all join hands in saving our forests and not let these violators even enter them. I will continue my fight. Though, I am lot disappointed with the state forest department who did not support me in procuring my train tickets to New Delhi after my nomination,” said Tuddu.
Sangita Puri
Sangita Puri of Bokaro Thermal, who has been busy conducting a serious study on astrology since 1975 has received the honour in the Education category from the President. Puri claims that her life’s goal is to eradicate all sorts of malpractices in astrology and to ensure the science remains in the hands of the educated.
“My father Vidya Sagar Mahtha had founded the Gatyatmak Jyotishya Anusandhan Kendra in Bokaro back in 1975 and since, then I have taken a keen interest after him in the subject. Currently, we have written many papers and articles on the subject and wish to spread awareness amongst the uneducated to only trust the knowledge of astrology from the responsible, qualified people and not just anybody who claims to be a pandit. I am extremely proud to have received the honour and happy that people would now recognise the subject as a serious one,” said Puri from New Delhi.
Roshni Mukherjee
Roshni, a software engineer by profession is also an online educator who uploads tutorial videos for students of Class IX to XII on YouTube. She has over one lakh subscribers and about 4,400 uploaded videos on her channel in the past five years.
Roshni has been felicitated at the Rashtrapati Bhavan along with other women achievers for her exceptional contribution towards providing online education to millions of students in the Education category.
She feels that her husband has been very supportive in this regard, and he helps her in every possible manner.