Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami announced on Sunday that Indian women's hockey player Vandana Kataria will be the state's Department of Women Empowerment and Child Development's brand ambassador.
The announcement was made during a ceremony held at the IRDT Auditorium in Survey Chowk to honour the recipients of the Tilu Rauteli Award and the Anganwadi Workers Award.
The CM also stated that the prize money for the aforementioned awards will be raised from Rs 31,000 to Rs 51,000 beginning next year.
This year, 22 women received the Tilu Rauteli Award, and 22 women received the Anganwadi Karyakarti Puraskar. The Tilu Rauteli Award recipients received an honorarium of Rs 31 thousand as well as a citation. In contrast, the Anganwadi worker award included a cash prize of Rs 21 thousand as well as a citation.
Meanwhile, Uttarakhand Sports Minister Arvind Pandey visited Vandana and her family in Roshanabad village, Haridwar district, today.
Pandey met Vandana and her family members today and wished her a bright future.
Speaking to reporters after meeting the hockey player and her family, Pandey said, "Vandana Kataria has brought laurels to the country as well as Uttarakhand. India has got a brilliant player in Vandana. She will inspire millions to play the sport."
Earlier on Saturday, Dhami announced a Rs 25 lakh cash award to Indian women's hockey team member Vandana Kataria for her outstanding performance at the Tokyo Olympics.
"The Chief Minister said that the state is proud of Uttarakhand's daughter and Indian women's hockey team player Vandana Kataria stellar performance at the Tokyo Olympic Games, in recognition of this, she would be given a cash reward of Rs 25 lakh," informed the Chief Minister's Office.
The hockey player's brother, Pankaj Katariya, told reporters: "We thank the state government for making her the brand ambassador of the state's Department of Women Empowerment and Child Development. Today every girl wants to be like her. We are proud of her. She is not only the daughter of the family but the daughter of the entire country."
The Indian women's team gave it their all in the bronze medal match against Great Britain on Friday, but they fell just short of a podium finish after coming so close.
