The Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar is an annual event organised by the Ministry of Women & Child Development, Government of India, that recognizes and celebrates the exceptional accomplishments of our country’s children. The essence of this award ceremony is to applaud the untiring energy, determination, ability, gusto, and zeal of the Indian children.
Understanding the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar
The Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar is a prestigious national award given under two distinct categories: Bal Shakti Puraskar and Bal Kalyan Puraskar.
Exploring the Bal Shakti Puraskar
The Bal Shakti Puraskar is an award presented by the Government of India each year, aimed at recognizing and appreciating extraordinary achievements of children in various fields, such as innovation, scholastic achievements, social service, arts and culture, sports, and bravery.
Eligibility for this award is reserved for children who are citizens of India, residing in the country, and are aged between 5-18 years. The recipients of the Bal Shakti Puraskar are deemed worthy through rigorous selection and are then honoured with a medal, a cash prize of Rs. 1,00,000, book vouchers worth Rs.10,000, a certificate, and citation.
The history of this award traces back to 1996 when it was instituted as the National Child Award for Exceptional Achievement. However, in 2018, the name of the award was changed to the Bal Shakti Puraskar.
Understanding the Bal Kalyan Puraskar
The Bal Kalyan Puraskar is another part of the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar, awarded to Individuals and Institutions. Its primary focus is to recognise those who have significantly contributed to the cause of children in fields related to child development, child protection, and child welfare.
The eligibility criteria for this award stipulate that an individual should be an Indian citizen, residing in India, and should have attained the age of 18 years or above (as on 31st August of the respective year). Moreover, this person should have dedicated not less than seven years to working for children’s well-being.
For an institution to be eligible, it should not be fully funded by the government and must have been working in the field of child welfare for at least ten years, demonstrating consistent performance.
Three awards are presented under each of the two sub-categories – Individual and Institution – along with cash prizes of Rs. 1,00,000 and Rs. 5,00,000 respectively.
Like the Bal Shakti Puraskar, the Bal Kalyan Puraskar also witnessed a name change in 2018. Prior to this, it was known as the National Child Welfare Awards, having been instituted back in 1979.
Final Word
In essence, the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar underlines the untapped potential within India’s children and the people who work for their betterment. It serves as a beacon of recognition for all those committed to shaping a better future for the younger generation, by honouring their relentless efforts and achievements, both individually and collectively.
Through its two categories, the award encourages the competent abilities of young children, other individuals, and institutions, who are making significant contributions towards child development, protection, and welfare across the nation.
