District Collector Dr.A. Mallikarjuna presented the Rashtriya Bala Puraskar award to Ameya on behalf of the Prime Minister at a function at the Collectorate on Monday.

Kumari Lagudu Ameya from Visakhapatnam received the Prime Minister's Rashtriya Bala Puraskar-2021 award. Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised Ameya at the event via video conference.

Speaking on the occasion, the Collector said that among the 32 nominees from across the country for the year 2021, Ameya, a girl from the state of Andhra Pradesh, has been selected for the award as a classical dancer. Applications are received from boys and girls in August.

13-year-old Ameya Sri Sathyasai is a 9th standard student in Vidya Vihar. Ameya spoke to the Prime Minister via video conference held at NIC, Collectorate. In response to the Prime Minister's request, she said that she would strive to take Indian classical dance forms to new heights and to pass on this education to future generations as our arts and culture spread across the world.

Union Minister for Women and Child Development Smriti Zubin Irani was also present on the occasion along with Prime Minister Narendra Modi National Child Award recipients on the occasion of National Girl Child Day and Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav.

Award recipients also took part in the Republic Day Parade each year. However, due to the COVID-19 situation in the country, it has not been possible to hold the award ceremony in New Delhi for the last 2 years. This is the first time in the country that the Prime Minister has presented the National Child Award for the year 2021 - 2022 digitally using block chain technology.

The event was attended by M. Sita Mahalakshmi, Project Director, District Women and Child Development Organization, A. Satyanarayana, District Child Welfare Officer and others.