Delhi Government honours Licypriya Kangujam with International Women's Day Award 2021

New Delhi, 8th March 2021

Licypriya receiving the International Women's Day Award 2021 from Swati Jain - Chaiperson of Delhi Commission for Women

Nine Years Old Indian Climate and Environmental Activist Licypriya Kangujam has been honoured with International Women's Day Award 2021 by Delhi Commission for Women, Government of Delhi in recognition of her efforts towards empowerment of women and for being an inspiration for the country in the field of environment. The award carries the cash prize and a seal.

Around 50 people, among them men, women and transgender from across India, were felicitated on International Women's Day on Monday in a function organized by Delhi Commission for Women. Among those, drawn from all walks of life to be honoured were a Woman farmer Mohinder Kaur (75), who had hogged the limelight after actor Kangana Ranaut had called her Bilkis Bano of Shaheen Bagh fame and claimed that she could be rented to protest for Rs 100 a day and 13-year-old from Delhi who help halt two child marriages. The youngest recipient and only from North East India was Licypriya Kangujam only.

The felicitated personalities had commendable achievements under their belt or had worked significantly for women's empowerment. There was captain Tanya Shergill, for instance, the first woman to have led the military parade on Republic Day this year. Like her, captain Bhawna Kasturi achieved the milestone of being the first woman to lead an all-men army contingent in the Republic Day Parade.

Many police officers were among those honoured. There were also ISRO's women scientists who worked on Chandrayaan 2, acid attack survivor Laxmi Aggarwal, actor Shah Rukh Khan's philanthropic Meer Foundation, which offers free surgeries to acid attack survivors, the late Mahender Singh who was lawyer of Unnao rape survivor, the family of martyred 21-year-old jawan Sardar Gurtej Singh, professional golfer Deeksha Dagar and wrestler Neetu Sarkar.

Licypriya with Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal at the Award Ceremony

Addressing the award ceremony, DCW chief Swati Maliwal said, "Delhi Women's Commission has done unprecedented work in the last five years, handling over one lakh cases and attended to more than 4.5 lakh calls on the 181 helpline number. The commission has rescued many girls and women from different places."

Also present at the event, chief minister Arvind Kejriwal commended DCW for being the "only women's commission in India that is known for its work". He added, "Delhi is the only state that has provided free bus service for women, deputed security marshals in each bus and installed CCTV cameras on the streets across Delhi. While making any administrative decision, Delhi government keeps in mind the welfare of women and girls."

Licypriya receiving the International Women's Day Award 2021 from Swati Jain - Chaiperson of Delhi Commission for Women

Licypriya also urged the Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to include Climate Education as a compulsory subject in all schools of Delhi during the function and Kejriwal assured her the same.

In her award speech, Licypriya stated that she also faced lots of threats, online abuse and cyberbullying everyday to silence her voice but she never stopped. She urged every woman and girl child never ever give up until they reach their goals. She further added that our little things can make a huge difference.

Licypriya has been championing her cause since six-years-old to protect, preserve and nurture our environment by fighting climate change. She is one of the youngest climate activists globally and addressed the world leaders in the United Nations Climate Conference 2019 (COP25) in Madrid, Spain calling the world leaders to take immediate climate actions to save their future. She is an outspoken young leader inspiring millions of people around the World and one of the leading voices for climate change in the World despite her young age.

She was even praised by United Nations Secretary General Mr. Antonio Guterres as "8-Years-Old Licypriya is the reminder of the world's obligations towards future generations" in 2019. She spoke in over 400 institutions and other platforms in over 32 countries advocating adults about the threat of climate change as a part of her movement. She has planted over 3.5 lakhs trees under her initiative "Monday for Mother Nature" which mission to plant one million trees every year. She is one of the important voices for climate change in the world from Asia.

Licypriya award winning speech after receiving the International Women's day Award 2021

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