GUWAHATI, March 11 - Assam�s �Hargila Lady� Purnima Devi Barman received the Nari Shakti Puraskar for 2017 from President Ram Nath Kovind for her mission to conserve the endangered greater adjutant stork (hargila in Assamese).
The award was presented at Rashtrapati Bhavan on March 9. Along with Purnima Devi Barman, 30 women working in different sectors and nine institutions received the award.
At a special meeting organized for the awardees, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Purnima and appreciated her work and underscored the critical need to safeguard the greater adjutant storks from extinction.
Purnima informed the Prime Minister about the support she received from the local communities of Dadara, Pachariya and Singimari villages of Kamrup.
Union Ministers Maneka Gandhi and Smriti Irani congratulated Purnima and urged her to continue her commendable work.
�I am surprised and honoured that the government has recognised my efforts by conferring me the highest civilian award for women in India. This award is the best acknowledgment for the communities engaged in Hargila conservation and will inspire others who are involved in similar efforts,� Purnima said, dedicating the award to all women members of the Hargila Army.
