Sunday, September 11, 2016

Muskaan Ahirwar : 'Thought Leader' award @ unique initiative to set up a library in a slum to educate the underprivileged

Muskaan Ahirwar  : 'Thought Leader' award @ unique initiative to set up a library in a slum to educate the underprivileged

Muskaan’s proud moment at Niti from Durganagar slums

BHOPAL: City's child icon and 10-year-old librarian from Durganagar slums, Muskaan Ahirwar, was honoured at a Niti Aayog event at Teen Murti auditorium in Delhi. She was given the 'Thought Leader' award by Olympian Sakshi Malik at the 'Women Transforming India, 2016, awards for her unique initiative to set up a library in a slum to educate the underprivileged.

Muskaan was all smiles as she shared stage with India's movers and shakers like Olympian Sakshi Malik, ICICI CEO Chanda Kochhar, Biocon chairman Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw. Speaking to TOI, she said, "I was the youngest on stage and it's the happiest moment of my life. I gifted a book on Rani Laxmi Bai to Sakshi Malik as she made India proud at Rio. I never imagined I would receive an honour in Delhi. The reward has given me power to work harder," she said.


Manohar Ahirwar, Muskaan's father, who attended the event said, "No one in my family ever thought of reaching here. Muskaan has made us proud. This is the luckiest day for me and my family." Jury members who selected Muskaan for the award included Niti Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant, vice-chairman Arvind Panagariya, UN resident coordinator Yuri Afanasiev and Gaurav Dwivedi, CEO.

'Women Transforming India' was launched to celebrate the indomitable spirit of the fair sex, who work tirelessly to empower communities and transform the nation. The campaign is also consistent with the government's renewed commitment to advance gender equality. The many interventions, including Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, Sukanya Samridhi Yojana and Janani Suraksha Yojana are testimony to its resolve to empower women and tackle discrimination.


Launched on March 8, the contest was hosted on MyGov.in and ran till 15 April. The contest was supported by an extensive outreach campaign, including social media. Muskaan started her library in January, 2016, in her verandah with 119 books. Now, she has 400 books in her library. As she took a step ahead with help of Rajya Siksha Kendra, students from central library stepped in to teach students in her slums every day.


Regards

Pralhad Jadhav
Senior Manager @ Library
Khaitan & Co


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