Hockey Player Vandana Katariya who faced casteist slurs, appointed as Women & Child Development amba

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• Aug 9, 2021 | moderator

Uttarakhand: On Sunday, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami designated Indian Women's hockey player Vandana Katariya as the brand ambassador. She has been appointed as a brand ambassador of the state's Women Empowerment and Child Development Department.

The decision was taken at a program designed to congratulate the winners of awardees of the Tilu Rauteli Award and the Anganwadi Workers Award.

CM Pushkar Singh further announced that the amount for cash rewards would be increased. The amount will be raised from Rs 31,000 to Rs 51,000 from next year onwards.

In 2021, around 22 women were acknowledged with the Tilu Rauteli Award, and 22 were awarded Anganwadi Karyakarti Puraskar. 

The beneficiaries of the Tilu Rauteli Award were granted a reward of Rs 31,000 and a citation. Whereas, under the Anganwadi worker award, a cash award of Rs 21,000 and a citation were provided.

Uttarkhand Sports Minister Arvind Pandey joined Vandana and her parents at Haridwar's Roshanabad community and wished her a glorious future.

"Vandana Katariya has earned honors to the nation as well as Uttarakhand. India has got an excellent athlete in Vandana. She will motivate millions to play the game," said Sports Minister Pandey.

Meantime, Vandana's brother, Pankaj Katariya, thanked the state government for addressing her as the brand ambassador.

"We appreciate the state administration for addressing her as the brand ambassador. Now each girl desires to be like her. We are proud of her. She is not simply the daughter of the family but the daughter of the entire nation," he stated.

Remarkably, Vandana was subjected to casteist stigmas from a group of men from a dominant caste in her village. The crackers staged a party, and they taunt her family following the Indian women's hockey team's tragic semi-final loss at the Olympics.