Bhageerathi Amma to be awarded Nari Shakti Puraskar

After a mention in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s monthly Mann ki Baat programme recently, Bhageerathi Amma has been chosen for the ‘Nari Shakti Puraskar-2019’. She made headlines for passing the class 4 equivalency literacy exam in Kerala.

Kollam:Bhageerathi Amma who made headlines for passing the equivalency exam in Kerala has been chosen for the ‘Nari Shakti Puraskar-2019’.

President Ram Nath Kovind is expected to confer the award to her on March 8, International Women's Day at a function in New Delhi.

Bhageerathi Amma (105) had attempted the class 4 equivalency literacy exam and was acknowledged by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his radio programme ‘Mann Ki Baat’.

While narrating the story of Bhagirathi Amma, Modi had said in his radio address that, “If we wish to progress in life, we should develop ourselves, if we wish to achieve something in life, the first pre-condition for that is the student within us must never die.”

Bhageerathi Amma had left formal education in class three at the age of 9.

Due to her advanced age, she had difficulty in writing the exams and took three days to complete the three question papers on environment, mathematics and Malayalam, literacy mission sources said.

She scored 205 out of a total of 275 marks and scored full marks in maths, they added.

One of her six children and three of her 15 grandchildren are no more.

The woman has 12 grand and great-grandchildren.

The Nari Shakti Puraskar, given annually to individuals, groups, institution in recognition of their exceptional works towards the cause of women empowerment.