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Padma Awards – one of the highest civilian Awards of the country, are conferred in
three categories, namely, Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri. The Awards are given in various disciplines/ fields of activities, viz.- art, social work, public affairs, science and engineering, trade and industry, medicine, literature and education, sports, civil service, etc.
‘Padma Vibhushan’ is awarded for exceptional and distinguished service; ‘Padma Bhushan’ for distinguished service of high order and ‘Padma Shri’ for distinguished service in any field.
Padma Shri 2021 Awardees:
This year, a total of 119 Padma Awards were conferred, out of which were 7 Padma Vibhushan, 10 Padma Bhushan and 102 Padma Shri Awardees. Among these 29 women, pioneering in every field received them starting from art, to social work, trade, industry, sports and many more. So let’s dive right into the list of women Padma Shri Awardees.
1. P Anitha – Tamil Nadu
Category- Sports
Anitha Pauldurai, an experienced basketball player for 18 years, who was also the former captain of the Indian women’s national basketball team, was awarded the Padma Shri. She won 30 medals in Basketball national championship, became the youngest ever captain at 10 to the senior national team, and has played various international tournaments.
2. Bhuri Bai- Madhya Pradesh
Category- Art
Hailing from a village called Pitola in Madhya Pradesh, she took folk art to another level and gained recognition and fame for her work, establishing herself as a Bhil contemporary artist.
3. Lakhimi Baruah- Assam
Category- Social Work
In a bid to financially empower women from weaker sections of society, she founded the Konoklata Mahila Urban Cooperative Bank in Jorhat, Assam, a bank for women and by women. As a result of recognition for her vision and efforts, she received the Padma Shri, 2021.
4. Rajni Bector- Punjab
Category- Trade and Industry
Starting with a home business in bakery and ice creams, she reached heights in a few years when her business grew and she opened her brand, Cremica with a turnover of 5 crores. Tody the IPO of her company, Mrs Bector’s Food Specialities has been oversubscribed 198 times.
5. Sangkhumi Bualchhuak – Mizoram
Category- Social Work
She contributed to some revolutionary policies for the betterment and upliftment of women, bringing key changes and reforms in the Mizo society.
6. Bijoya Chakravarty- Assam
Category- Public Affairs
She is a politician working with the Bhartiya Janata Party. She was elected from the Guwahati constituency in the 13th Lok Sabha elections and served as the Union Minister of State for Water Resources.
7. Mouma Das – West Bengal
Category- Sports
Mouma Das is an Indian Table Tennis player who represented the country in various international events. She has a record of winning multiple medals at the Commonwealth Games. With the Arjuna Award in her books, she is the second table tennis player to win Padma Shri after Achanta Sharath Kamal.
8. Chutni Devi – Jharkhand
Category- Social Work
Despite being labelled a witch, she fought for herself and women across who faced atrocities. Chutni Mahato emerged successful in spreading awareness among the people of her village.
9. Dulari Devi – Bihar
Category- Art
Dulari Devi is an Indian artist from Bihar known for her works of the Mithila art tradition. She received the Padma Shri for her contributions to the field of art.
10. Radhe Devi- Manipur
Category- Art
Radhe Devi goes by the title of Potloi Setpi, meaning a bridalwear designer and has draped numerous brides with her exclusive designs.
11. Shanti Devi- Odisha
Category- Social Work
She worked for the upliftment of Tribal girls and destitute women. She encouraged girls to speak against injustice and become self-dependent. She started Seva Samaj and a school, as she emphasizes the importance of education for girls.
12. Anshu Jamsenpa -Arunachal Pradesh
Category- Sports
An Indian Mountaineer from Arunachal Pradesh, she is the fastest woman to scale a double summit of Mount Everest within 5 days.
13. Purnamasi Jani – Odisha
Category- Art
With no formal education, Purnamasi Jani is a tribal poetess. Around 5000 of her songs and poems have been documented by literateurs and literary societies.
14. Prakash Kaur – Punjab
Category- Social Work
She started with a centre, Unique Homes for the orphan, abandoned, and unclaimed girls. She raised 100 abandoned girls, 30 of which are married and the other 70 pursuing their studies.
15. Sanjida Khatun – Bangladesh
Category- Art
She is an Indian Musicologist and a founder of the Bangladesh Mukti Sangrami Shilpi Sangstha during the Liberation War in 1971.
16. Niru Kumar – Delhi
Category- Social Work
She is a doctor, psychologist and diversity and inclusion consultant. With her own life experiences facing a disability, she aimed at spreading awareness about diversity and inclusion with the help of medicine, psychology and Neuro-Linguistic Programming.
17. Ms Lajwanti – Punjab
Category- Art
Having learnt the traditional Phulkari art at a young age, Lajwanti kept it alive by spreading it across the country and abroad.
18. Ms Pappammal – Tamil Nadu
Category- Agriculture
The 105 years old farmer, Pappammal won the Padma Shri for popularizing organic farming, and she runs her organic farm. She contributed to encouraging women in agriculture.
19. Jaswantiben Jamnadas Popat – Maharashtra
Category- Trade and Industry
The woman behind the famous brand, Lijjat Papad was awarded the Padma Shri for her journey as the brand grew to a 1600 crores business and employs 45,000 women across the country.
20. Birubala Rabha – Assam
Category- Social Worker
After being branded a witch, it became her life’s mission to protest against witchcraft and witch-hunting with an organisation she runs called, Mission Birubala.
21. Bombay Jayashri Ramnath – Tamil Nadu
Category- Art
Bombay Jayashri is one of the finest Indian musicians. She has sung in multiple languages, including Tamil, Telegu, Kannada, Malayalam and Hindi.
22. Sindhutai Sapkal – Maharashtra
Category- Social Work
She took on herself the responsibility to devote her life to orphans and led many ashrams. She has adopted over 2000 orphans and is lovingly called, ‘Mai'( mother).
23. Sudha Hari Narayan Singh – Uttar Pradesh
Category- Sports
She is an athlete in the 3000 metres steeplechase award. She won 2 gold and 4 silver medals at the Asian Games and has been representing India in international events since 2005.
24. Mridula Sinha – Bihar
Category- Literature and Education
She was an Indian writer and politician. She was the first woman governor of Goa who served from August 2014 to October 2019.
25. Guru Maa Kamali Soren – West Bengal
Category- Social Work
She is an active member of Banavasi Kalyan Ashram, and she works towards bringing back the indigenous Christians and Muslims by converting them back to Hindusim.
26. Nidumolu Sumathi – Andhra Pradesh
Category- Art
Ms. Nidumolu Sumathi is a Mridangam Player from Andhra Pradesh who has been performing for 6 decades. She is also the first female Laya Vinyasam artist. She will be awarded Padma Shri this year. #PadmaAwards2021 #PeoplesPadma pic.twitter.com/Cq674zSDd7
— MyGovIndia (@mygovindia) January 28, 2021
A notable percussionist and mridanganist, she is the first female mridangam player in India and the first female Laya Vinyasam artist. She is married to the mridangam maestro, Sri Dandamudi Ram Mohan Rao.
27. Usha Yadav – Uttar Pradesh
Category- Literature and Education
Hindi Literateur and Author Usha Yadav have authored more than 100 books based on children, women and senior citizens.
28. Matha B. Manjamma Jogati – Karnataka
Category: Art
Manjamma Jogati is a folk artist from Karnataka who is the first transperson to preside over the prestigious Karnataka Janapada Academy. Transgender folk dancer Matha B Manjamma Jogati was honoured with a Padma Shri award for her contribution to arts. She is the Chairman of Karnataka Janapada (Folklore) Academy. She has been instrumental in popularizing the folk art forms practised in rural Karnataka, Maharashtra and parts of Andhra Pradesh.
Padma Shri 2020 Awardees:
For the year 2020 the President of India has approved conferment of 141 Padma Awards, The list comprises 7 Padma Vibhushan, 16 Padma Bhushan and 118 Padma Shri Awards. 33 of the awardees are women. So let’s dive right into the list of women Padma Shri Awardees.
1. Ms. Gloria Arieira – Brazil
Category: Literature and Education
2. Dr. Padmavathy Bandopadhyay – Uttar Pradesh
Category: Medicine
Padmavathy Bandopadhyay, the first woman Indian Air Force (IAF) officer promoted to the Air Marshal rank. She is the second woman in the Indian Armed Forces to be promoted to a three-star rank. she has been First woman to become a Fellow of the Aerospace Medical Society of India and the first Indian woman to have conducted scientific research at the North Pole.
3. Dr. Damayanti Beshra – Odisha
Category: Literature and Education
Dr. Damayanti Beshra is a Reputed Santhali Author and Adivasi Researcher and is known for her important contributions to the language.
4. Ms. Indira P. P. Bora – Assam
Category: Art
Smt. Indira P. P. Bora is a Acclaimed Sattriya dancer from Assam and is contributed in establishing it as a classical dance form of India
5. Ms. Usha Chaumar – Rajasthan
Category: Social Work
Smt. Usha Chaumar is a Former manual scavenger, who has been through decades of hard work and service risen to become President of Sulabh International, at the forefront of environmental sanitation.
6. Ms. Lalitha & Ms. Saroja Chidambaram (Duo) – Tamil Nadu
Category: Art
Smt. Lalitha Chidambaram is a Veteran Carnatic singer duo. She is famous as the ‘Bombay Sisters’ across India and the world.
7. Dr. Vajira Chitrasena – Sri Lanka
Category: Art
8. Prof. Indra Dassanayake – Sri Lanks
Category: Literature and Education
9. Ms. Oinam Bembem Devi – Manipur
Category: Sports
Oinam Bembem Devi is an Indian footballer born in Imphal in Manipur. In 2017, she was honoured with the Arjuna Award by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. She was nicknamed the “Durga of Indian Football” and is currently involved in spreading awareness about Women’s football in India.
10. Ms. Lia Diskin – Brazil
Category: Social Work
11. Ms. Tulasi Gowda – Karnataka
Category: Social Work
Smt. Tulsi Gowda is a Halakki Tribal woman famous as the Encyclopedia of Forest due to her vast knowledge of diverse species of plants and herbs.
12. Ms. Meenakshi Jain – Delhi
Category: Literature and Education
Dr. Meenakshi Jain is a Senior Historian and Political Scientist and is known for her scholarly contributions to Indian history.
13. Ms. Shanti Jain – Bihar
Category: Art
Dr. Shanti Jain is a Veteran Bhojpuri, Maithili & Magahi Singer who carried forward the rich folk music tradition of Bihar.
14. Shri K. V. Sampath Kumar & Ms. Vidushi Jayalakshmi K.S. (Duo) – Karnataka
Category: Literature and Education-Journalism
Husband-Wife journalist duo – running world’s only daily newspaper published in Sakskrit, Sudharma.
15. Dr. Leela Joshi – Madhya Pradesh
Category: Medicine
Dr. Leela Joshi is a Retired Railways Medical Officer called Mother of Ratlam for her high impact work amongst women suffering from Anemia.
16. Ms. Sarita Joshi – Maharashtra
Category: Art
Smt. Sarita Joshi is a Veteran Theatre, Television and Film Actress of over 7 decades across Gujarat, Marathi and Hindi.
17. Ms. Ekta Kapoor – Maharashtra
Category: Art
Ms. Ekta Ravi Kapoor is a Indian TV series producer and a Film-maker, popularly known as the Queen of the Indian Television and credited for starting new wave on the Indian TV.
18. Ms. Binapani Mohanty – Odisha
Category: Literature and Education
Ms. Binapani Mohanty is a Notable Odia author and poet and is known for her women-centric, real-life oriented stories and poems.
19. Ms. Moozhikkal Pankajakshi – Kerala
Category: Art
The greatest inheritance is the inheritance of knowledge. Moozhikkal Pankajakshi being the last link to the puppetry art form of ‘Nokkuvidya Pavakkali, the centuries old traditional puppetry of Kerala. She is the only practitioner of this unique form of puppetry. The art form of Nokkuvidya Pavakkali is said to be of nearly five centuries old. Pankajakshi has kept her doors ajar for those interested in learning this form of puppetry, which is under threat of extinction.
20. Ms. Rahibai Soma Popere – Maharashtra
Category: Others-Agriculture
Rahibai Soma Popere is a 52-year-old tribal farmer from Mahadeo Koli Tribal community from Komblne village of Akole tribal block in Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra. Popularly known as SEED Mother for conserving indigenous seeds who is also associated with BAIF Development Research Foundation, a Core Support Group of Department of Science & Technology (DST). She has worked for conserving hundreds of native varieties and encouraging farmers to grow traditional crops. She has also made it a motto of her life to spreading awareness about organic farming, agro-biodiversity, and wild food resources.
21. Ms. Rani Rampal – Haryana
Category: Sports
Current Captain of the Indian Women’s Hockey Team and have already represented India for over a decade.
22. Ms. Kangana Ranaut – Maharashtra
Category: Art
Three – times National Film Award winning Hindi Films Actress and is known for portraying strong women-centric roles.
23. Smt. (Dr.) Shanti Roy – Bihar
Category: Medicine
Dr. Shanti Roy is a Veteran Doctor from Patna who is serving for the past 5 decades, from a time when very few women were in the field.
24. Shri Radhammohan & Ms. Sabarmatee (Duo) – Odisha
Category: Others-Agriculture
The Gandhian father-daughter duo of farmers from Odisha – enabling farmers across the country to a sustainable organic farming course.
25. Ms. Trinity Saioo – Meghalaya
Category: Others-Agriculture
She is Tribal woman Farmer from the Jaintia Hills, who spearheaded the women-led turmeric farming movement in Meghalaya, enabling the women farmers to triple their incomes.
26. Dr. Sandra Desa Souza – Maharashtra
Category: Medicine
Dr. Sandra Desa Souza is a Senior ENT Surgeon and a pioneer of cochlear implant surgery in India.
27. Smt. Kalee Shabi Mahaboob & Shri Sheik Mahaboob Subani (Duo) – Tamil Nadu
Category: Art
Sheik Mahaboob Subhani is an Indian classical music Nadaswaram artist. Mahaboob Subhani and Kaleeshabi have toured extensively throughout India for their recitals. Both the husband and wife are musicians have also had vocal training for five years under Sri K Chandramouli and from Padma Shri Late Dr Sheik Chinna Moulana Sahib. They have received the Kalaimamani awards in 1994 from the Government of Tamil Nadu and have performed extensively in India and abroad.
