Chizokho Vero
August 22
KOHIMA (MExN): Children from Nagaland are unlikely to figure in the list of the prestigious National Bravery Award for Children this year. With this year’s exclusion, children from Nagaland have failed to figure for this award for now almost 10 years altogether. “We may not have an award this year too as we did not receive any applicantion till date”, an officer from Nagaland Council of Child Welfare told The Morung Express. Recently, the Council had invited application from the deserving children in Nagaland for the bravery award. However, till date no individual or groups have come forward with names.
Ten years ago, two children from Nagaland were conferred with the national bravery award. According to records made available to The Morung Express, 13 years old Khyothungo Kikon received the award in 1993. Kikon’s act of bravery came to light when a child by the name Tsuknungrenla age 4 while playing a game of hide and seek, slipped into a deep well and was drowning to death. Kikon saw it and had jumped into the well rescuing the child. Another awardee Thanghao Lhouvum, aged 7 received the award in 1995.
In an ethnic clash on January 22 1994, all his parents, brothers and sisters were murdered at Athibung jungle. Thanghao Lhouvum had also received serious head injury with a dao of the rival group. The rival group took him for dead and left. He took refuge in Intangki Forest. He lived on wild roots and leaves. On the 4th day, he managed to reach a safe place somewhere in Assam.
It may be mentioned that the scheme of National Award to Children for bravery, gallantry and meritorious services was started way back in 1957 at the initiative of Late Indira Gandhi. It was in this year that a 15 year old boy from Delhi was rewarded for his exemplary presence of mind and courage for extinguishing a fire from a Shamiana where Late Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and several other VIPs were seated during the Ramlila celebrations at Gandhi ground.
Since then, the Indian Council of Child Welfare decided to confer National Award to children under 16 years of age every year. The main objective of the scheme is to give due recognition to the children who perform acts of bravery, gallantry and meritorious services with a view to inspire other children to follow their deeds.
Alongside cash award and a silver medal, deserving awardees are also granted financial assistance under the sponsorship scheme of the Council until they complete their schooling.
Eight seats have also been reserved for them in some medical and engineering institutions and polytechnics by the Government of India.
