India can develop only when children are empowered: Tirath

Children are one of the most important resources for the country and it is them that need to be empowered if India is to realise its full potential, Union Women and Child Development Minister Krishna Tirath said here today.
"Women and children account for a major chunk of our population. Each child is an important resource and the country can develop only when these children are empowered.
"Many schemes have been launched by government and several guidelines have been issued for their development, but efforts at individual level are required too," Tirath said at the ongoing Vatsalya Mela at Dilli Haat.

At the venue, Tirath today gave away the National Awards for Child Welfare, 2012, and the Rajiv Gandhi Manav Seva Award, 2012-13, to those who have contributed to the cause of child protection and welfare.
The Manav Seva Award, which carries a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh, a memento and a citation, was given to six individuals. The recipients of the award for 2012 were Bhabendra Nath Dutta from Assam, Ved Prakash Arya from Haryana and Dr Samir Hasan Dalwai from Maharashtra.
For 2013, the award went to Sister Dr Mary Litty from Kerala, Lian C Tombing of Manipur and Satya Prakash Sharma of Himachal Pradesh.

National Awards for Child Welfare, 2012, were given to five institutions and three individuals. This award, when conferred on an institution, carries a cash prize of Rs 3 lakh and a citation. For individuals, the cash prize is of Rs 1 lakh.
The institutions conferred with the National Award for 2012 were Akshay Pratishthan, Kasturba Gandhi National Memorial Trust, Delhi, SMSS Hindu Mahila Mandiram, Kerala, Ushas Centre for Exceptional Children, Karnataka, and Thutak Nunpuitu Team, Mizoram.
Individuals who received the National Awards for 2012 included, Bharat Lal Sahu (Chhattisgarh), Dr N Raveendran (Kerala) and Shailaja Ashok Goundaje (Maharashtra).