It was a very proud and emotional moment for India when Vyoma Priya, an 8-year-old girl from Coimbatore, was posthumously awarded the 'Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puruskar' on December 26 (Thursday). President Droupadi Murmu presented the award.
The award was received by her parents during a national programme of Veer Bal Diwas in New Delhi. This award is one of India's highest recognitions for children between 5 to 18 years of age and is awarded for their bravery, science, social service, technology and environment.
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Vyoma Priya's brave act
According to her family, Vyoma was playing in the park of their residential complex when she saw a 6-year-old boy, Jiyans Reddy, fall onto a metal slide. There was an underground electricity cable passing under the slide and when light was switched on at the playground, power was passing through the metal slide. This resulted in the electrocution of Jiyans Reddy. While trying to save him, Vyoma was also caught in the current.
The boy has reportedly survived.
The family said...
As per a video posted by The Tatva on X, Archana Sivaramakrishnan, Vyoma's mother, said, "I am receiving the bravery award on behalf of our daughter, Vyoma Priya. She was 8 years old when she was playing in the children's park in our apartment complex. A slide in the park was installed over a damaged underground cable, which electrified the slide.
A 6-year-old boy playing on it fell, and our Vyoma tried to rescue him, but was caught in the current herself. It is a bittersweet moment for us to be getting this award... We wish she could have been here to receive this award herself."
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Rare occasion
While the award is not given posthumously, but in rare cases, the committee recommends it. It was given so that stories like hers do not vanish becoming a quiet memory.
