Irom Sharmila selected for Sthree Shakti Award

Our Correspondent IMPHAL,February 24 Irom Chanu Sharmila has been selected for "Sthree Shakti Award" instituted by KA Kunjila Smaraka Sthree Skakti Trust,a Cochin (Kerala) based women empowerment move, for her extraordinary courage and determination in continuing her hunger strike for the 15th year demanding the repeal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, 1958.This was announced by KA Kunjila Smaraka Sthree Skakti Trust and Just Peace Foundation functionaries during a joint press conference at Manipur Press Club in Imphal on Tuesday. According to Managing Trustee and the Director FIAT Justicia Advocate ML George, Irom while accepting the Sthree Shakti Award offer, gave in writing that she would accept the award formally on "achieving her goal and freedom". Letter Award offer was however handed over to Sharmila by Advocate ML George of the Kerala High Court Bar, the managing trustee, in the presence of Babloo Loitongbam on Monday at her judicial custody in Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences in Imphal.It may be mentioned that the award carries a cash prize of Rs 25,000 and a citation. KA Kunjila was a freedom fighter and a khadi activist. She was also the founder secretary of "Nattika Desiya Mahila Samaja," The cash prize is being drawn from her freedom fighter's pension amount saved by her. Mylamma of Plachimada,Padmabushan Sugathakumari,the Olympican PT Usha,the first communist Minister KR Gouriamma,the tribal activist CK Janu are the former recipients of the Sthree Shakti Award, he added.