The Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, gave away the National Bravery Awards, 2004 to 19 children on the eve of 56th Republic Day, at a function held at Prime Minister's House today. The prestigious Geeta Chopra award was received by 13-year old Boya Geethanjali of Andhra Pradesh, while the Sanjay Chopra award was presented to 14-year old Harry Chadhury of Delhi. N. Kandha Kumar of Tamil Nadu was awarded the Bapu Gayadhani award posthumously. His father, Shri P. Nayenachalam received the award.

The other children who received awards were: Majda alias Babli (Uttaranchal); Lalthanzawna and Khiangdingliana (Mizoram); Mahima Tiwari and Hotilal (Uttar Pradesh); R.K. Rahul Singh (Manipur); Priyanka (Haryana); Gopal Singh Sondia (Madhya Pradesh); Johncy Samuel, Sajan Antony, Shiney T.A and T.P. Krishna Prasad (all from Kerala); Vinod R. Jain (Karnataka); Ramandeep Singh and Pawan Kumar (Punjab).

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Singh congratulated the award winning children and their parents. The Prime Minister said that more programmes aimed at development of women and children would be introduced and the existing programmes would be initiated.

The Indian Council for Child Welfare institutes the National Bravery Awards every year for outstanding acts of courage. The award was instituted in 1957. So far, 669 children have been awarded the Bravery awards.

Indian Council for Child Welfare Trust Chairperson, Smt. Sonia Gandhi, Union Home Minister, Shri Shivraj Patil and Union Minister for Human Resource Development, Shri Arjun Singh, were also present on the occasion.