Sampad Pal Devi, founder of the Gulabi Gang, an Uttar Pradesh-based social organisation that works for women’s welfare and empowerment bagged the Women Peacemaker Award-2015 at a function held on the occasion of the Mother’s Day here on Sunday.
Sampad Pal has been fighting against various forms of social injustice in UP through the Gulabi Gang, which has so far 2,70,000 members in its fold. She was awarded a cash prize of Rs50,000 along with a citation and a trophy. The award is instituted by NGO Maa Ghara Foundation.
Besides, seven women of Odisha were also felicitated with the Best Mother award for working tirelessly for wellbeing of women and girls. They are Padmabati Meher of Balangir, Anadini Padhi of Jharsuguda, Padma Bhatra of Nabarangpur, Rajeshwari Dalai of Gunpur, Renuka Singh of Niali, Kanaklata Sahu of Adaspur and lincon Subudhi of Nayagarh.
Earlier, a seminar on the topic ‘Role of Mothers in Making World Peace’ was held on the occasion. School and Mass Education Minister Debi Prasad Mishra, Maa Ghara founder Rutuparna Mohanty, social activist and chief executive of Swabhiman Sruti Mohapatra, CRPF officer JPK Ray and editor-in-chief of Focus Odisha Sandeep Mishra spoke on the topic.