Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi interacted with Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar (PMRBP) awardees, here today, via video conferencing. Union Women and Child Development Minister, Smt. Smriti Zubin Irani was also present on the occasion.

Congratulating the Rashtriya Bal Puraskar Awardees on their achievement, the Prime Minister said that this year’s awards are special as the recipient earned them in the difficult times of COVID-19 pandemic. During the interaction, the Prime Minister acknowledged the role of children in major behaviour-change campaigns like swachchta movement. He said when children got involved in campaigns like handwash campaign during the pandemic, the campaigns caught the imagination of people and achieved success. The Prime Minister also noted the diversity in the fields in which awards have been given this year.

The Prime Minister observed that when a small idea is supported by the right action, results are impressive. He asked the children to believe in action as this interplay of ideas and action will trigger many actions inspiring people for greater things. The Prime Minister advised the children not to rest on their laurels and they should continue to strive for better results in their lives.

The Prime Minister asked the children to keep three things, three pledges, in their minds. First, pledge of Consistency. There should not be any slackening of the speed of the action. Second, pledge for the country. If we work for the country and treat every work in terms of the country, then that work will become greater than the self. He asked the children to think about what they can do for the country as we enter the 75th year of independence. Third, the pledge of humility.   Every success should spur us to be more polite as our humility will enable others to celebrate our success with us, the Prime Minister concluded.

Expressing her gratitude to the Prime Minister for interacting with the Rashtriya Bal Puraskar Awardees, Smt. Smriti Zubin Irani in her welcome address stated that all the programmes of the Prime Minister have been very inspiring for the children, whether it was interaction with students telling the importance of education on ‘Teachers Day’ or sharing the burden of students on ‘Pariksha par Charcha’. The minister said that the New Education Policy which has been brought after a gap of thirty years by the NDA government has further strengthened the foundation of New India. Referring to the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao scheme, she said daughters are rejoicing today after receiving the benefits under BBBP. The minister congratulated all the children for winning this award. A presentation was made on all the awardees of PMRBP on the occasion.

32 children have been awarded the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar, 2021. The Government of India has been awarding the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar to the children with exceptional abilities and outstanding accomplishments, in the fields of innovation, scholastics, sports, arts & culture, social service and bravery.

The awardee children are from 32 districts of 21 States/UTs. 7 awards have been given in the field of Art & Culture, 9 awards have been given for Innovation and 5 for scholastic achievements. 7 children have won in Sports category, 3 children have been felicitated for Bravery and one child has been honoured for her efforts in the field of Social Service. Each award carries a medal, a cash prize of Rs. 1,00,000/-, a certificate and a citation.