The President of India, Shri Ram Nath Kovind, presented Nari Shakti Puraskar for the years 2020 and 2021 on the occasion of International Women’s Day at a function held at Rashtrapati Bhavan March 8, 2022.
President Kovind presented Nari Shakti Puraskar to Shobha Gasti for remarkable efforts in the empowerment of women and girls. She started an NGO that helped in mainstreaming over 3600 devadasis in Belagavi.
Shobha Gasti started Mahila Abhivrudhi Mattu Samrakshana Samasthe (MASS), NGO that works in 360 villages across three talukas in Belagavi. MASS was effective in mainstreaming 3600+ devadasis in the Belagavi district; putting an end to the practise of forced Devadasi. She has strategically desecrated symbols of ritual sanction to the practise of devdasi system by publicly appealing to people and through campaigns that focuses on ensuring the dignity and education of girl children by preventing child marriage, child trafficking, and child abuse.
The Nari Shakti Puraskar is awarded to her for remarkable efforts & exemplary contribution for the cause of empowerment of women and girls.
Hearty congratulations to Shobha Gasti Ji.