By IANS
New Delhi : When little Ankit Rai, just three feet tall, stepped forward to receive his bravery award from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and shake hand with hi, a loud round of applause went up for the plucky eight-year-old. Ankit’s other had was cut off while he resistied a kidnapping attempt.
Ankit was all smiles as he saluted Manmohan Singh with his right hand during the function in the courtyard of the prime minister’s residence at 7, Race Course Road, Thursday.
“Look at Ankit Rai, he did not give up even when his kidnappers had tied him to a railway track. He showed great courage even after he lost his left wrist and freed himself,” Manmohan Singh said after giving away the award.
“I salute him,” said the prime minister.
Ankit was one among 22 children who received the national bravery awards for fighting off assailants or rescuing people from disasters. Four of them were awarded posthumously.
Congress Kanwar, a 13-year-old girl, received the award for putting her foot down against attempts to marry her off.
When her family fixed up her marriage despite her protests, Kanwar called the police on the wedding day, forcing the guests to leave. With the support of her teachers, she managed to convince her family members about her decision to continue with her studies.
“With her story, I am convinced that each and every girl child in this country wants to study and progress in life,” Manmohan Singh said.
Among the posthumous awardees were Suraj, his brother Abhishake, Anmol Aghi and Lalrempuii.
Suraj, nine, and his six-year-old brother Abhishake had jumped into the village water tank to save their friend Lucky, who had accidentally slipped into it. Though Lucky was saved, both the brothers were drowned. The parents came to receive the award with their son’s photographs.
While Amol Aghi, 15, died while fighting off burglars at his house, 14-year-old Lalrempuii died after giving a tough fight to men who tried to rape her.
Six-year-old Yuktarth Shrivastava was the youngest to receive the award. He had saved his 11-month-old sister from an attack by stray dogs.
The function was also attended by United Progressive Alliance (UPA) chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Women and Child Development Minister Renuka Chowdhury, Chairperson of the Indian Council for Child Welfare Gita Siddhartha and Gursharan Kaur, the prime minister’s wife.
Students from various schools in the national capital were also present.