Sharmila is the first woman recipient of the award from the North East, said Advocate ML George, Managing Trustee and Director FIAT JUSTICIA during a press meet held at Manipur Press Club.
The award was bestowed on Sharmila in recognition of her extraordinary courage and determination in continuing her hunger strike for the 15th year demanding the repeal of Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958, he said.
ML George said that he along with Babloo Loitongbam, member Just Peace Foundation, met Sharmila yesterday at JNIMS hospital where she is currently kept in judicial custody on charge of trying to commit suicide under section 309 IPC.
During the meeting inside the security ward of JNIMS, Sharmila while accepting the Sthree Shakti Award offer gave in writing that she would accept the Award formally after achieving her goal and freedom. The award carries a cash prize of Rs 25,000 and a citation.
The award is instituted in the name of KA Kunjila, a freedom fighter and a Khadi activist. She was also the founder secretary of ‘Nattika Desiya Mahila Samajan.’ The prize money is being drawn from Kunjila’s Freedom Fighter’s pension amount saved by her.
Previous recipients of the award included Mylamma of Plachimada, Padmabhusan Sugathakumari, Olympian PT Usha, first Communist Minister KR Gouriamma and tribal activist CK Janu.
The press meet was also attended by trustees of Just Peace Foundation.