Chandra Mohan Singh Rawat is a differently-abled but the supreme sacrifice his daughter made to save the life of a boy has made him forget his inherent weakness. His daughter Monika would be posthumously awarded with President’s bravery award on Republic day. labhanshu of Rishikesh is the other recipient of the bravery award from the state.
The uncle of Monika, Kuldeep Singh Rawat told The Pioneer that on June 15 2014 Monika a student of class XI of Government Inter College langashu, Karanprayag of Chamoli district saved the life of a 10 year old boy Saheen. The boy had slipped into the Alaknanda river and was about to be swept by the river when Monika jumped in the river and pushed him towards the river bank.
The life of the boy was saved but Monika lost her life in the process. Rawat said that Monika was second of five siblings and was very good in the studies. The grandfather of the girl B S Rawat and Kuldeep are in Delhi to receive the award. The grief stricken mother of girl Kamla Devi initially refused to send anyone to Delhi to receive the award when she was told about the decision of the government to honour the bravery of Monika. She however was persuaded by the relatives and fellow villagers.
The Joint Secretary of Uttarakhand State Child Welfare Board (USCB) K P Bhatt told The Pioneer that board had recommended names of four students Monika, labhanshu, Komal of Haridwar and Sidharth of Pauri Garhwal out of which the central government selected two children. He said that labhanshu a class X student of Rishikesh saved lives of two persons who were drowning in the Gang canal in Haridwar district. The Prime Minister Narendra Modi will meet the recipients and families members of bravery award winners at his residence on January 24.
Bhatt said that people should intimate the board any act of bravery by the children of age group 6 to 18 years tillSeptember 30. The Senior Vice President of USCB S C Dobhal, Vice President Dr I S Pal, General secretary B K Dobhal and life members of USCB Madhu Berry, Kusum Kothari, K P Sati and PS Kathait have expressed their greetings to the family members of the bravery award recipients.