States » NorthPosted at: Sep 29 2026 11:20AM


Haryana revamps state awards for women; Sushma Swaraj Award to carry Rs 5 lakh

Panchkula, Sep 29 (UNI) The Haryana government has revamped its state-level awards for women, with the Smt. Sushma Swaraj Award carrying the highest cash prize of Rs 5 lakh, while the selection process involves multiple stages, including verification of achievements and, for specified categories, police verification.
The revised scheme, notified by the Women and Child Development Department, will come into effect from the 2026-27 financial year and supersedes government notifications issued on November 5, 2019 and September 29, 2022.
Under the scheme, the Smt. Sushma Swaraj Award, named after the former union minister and Haryana leader, will be given to one woman who has made a significant contribution in her field and has outstanding achievements at the state level.
The Indira Gandhi Mahila Shakti Award will carry Rs 5 lakh in cash, a citation and a shawl and will be given to one woman for exemplary work in areas including support and rehabilitation of women and children in difficult circumstances, promotion of self-help groups and women's empowerment initiatives, entrepreneurship and public service.
Significantly, the Kalpna Chawla Shaurya Award, carrying Rs 1.50 lakh and a citation, will recognise a woman who has shown exemplary courage at risk to her own life.
The Bahin Shanno Devi Panchayati Raj Award, also carrying Rs 1 lakh and a citation, will recognise women representatives of Panchayati Raj Institutions and urban local bodies for exemplary work towards women's empowerment.
Eligible work includes female literacy, health and nutrition, sanitation, water and hygiene, prevention of domestic violence and atrocities against women and weaker sections, prevention of female foeticide and child marriage, improvement in sex ratio, environmental protection and support to women in agriculture and rural industries. award award
A Lifetime Achievement Award will be given to one woman aged 60 years or above who has excelled in her field and set an example through professional integrity and dedication to society or the nation. It will carry Rs 51,000, a citation and a shawl.
The government has also provided for Women Outstanding Achievers Awards in three categories.
Four government employees who have done exemplary work, particularly involving moral courage for the cause of women beyond their normal duties, will be eligible. Four social workers with at least five years of work in women's welfare and two women entrepreneurs who have established their own businesses or industries and contributed to women's development will also be recognised.
Each recipient in these categories will get Rs 21,000, a citation and a shawl.
Under the nomination procedure prescribed for the specified award categories, nominations will be invited through advertisements in leading Hindi and English newspapers and through an online portal.
For the Smt. Sushma Swaraj Award, public representatives may nominate candidates, with the notification specifying two Members of Parliament and one Member of the Legislative Assembly. The committee may also suo motu nominate eligible candidates. award
Nominations covered by this procedure will be placed before a district-level recommending committee headed by the Deputy Commissioner, which will scrutinise the applications and forward those having satisfactory police verification to the Women and Child Development Department. award
Under the selection criteria, a nominee must possess a valid Parivar Pehchan Patra (PPP) and her achievements must be clearly documented and subjected to objective appraisal.
The nominee must also be alive on the date of nomination. Preference will be given to women who have entered the mainstream of life after overcoming significant struggle and adversity.
The notification says the sole criteria for selection will be performance and dedication to the cause of women, and no person can receive the same award more than once. award
A nominee will also have to submit a signed affidavit declaring that no adverse matter is pending against her or the institution before any forum, department or court.
If any information is subsequently found incorrect or any mismanagement is detected, the award and the associated monetary benefit will be liable to be returned to the government, according to the notification. award
The selection process will operate at three levels — a district-level recommending committee, a state-level screening committee and a final state-level selection committee headed by the Women and Child Development Minister. award
Under the annual schedule, departments are to be informed by May 1, advertisements issued by May 15 and nominations received by July 30. District-level committees are required to make their recommendations by September 15, the state-level screening committee is to meet by October 30 and the state-level selection committee by December 10.
The awardees are to be informed within 30 days, while the awards will be presented on International Women's Day on March 8 and must be personally received by the recipients. award.
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Tags: #Haryana revamps state awards for women; Sushma Swaraj Award to carry Rs 5 lakh
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