Udhagamandalam: A woman anganwadi worker from the Nilgiris has bagged the ‘Covid Women Warriors, the Real Heroes’ award conferred by the National Commission for Women (NCW) for her outstanding work during the lockdown period.
During the peak period of the pandemic and lockdown, the Nilgiris administration introduced community kitchen, a first of its kind in the district, for the tribal communities and the stranded guest workers in the Nilgiris.
R Vennila, attached to the Pudukadu anganwadi in Coonoor block, who was also in-charge of a community kitchen operated at her anganwadi, trekked at least 15km twice a week braving the difficult path and wild animals to deliver dry ration to the vulnerable tribal communities around Pudukadu area.
She further walked down to KilSingara estate to deliver dry ration and food to the Jharkhand workers in the estate.
She has been playing a pivotal role in ensuring nutri-food security for the Kurumba and Irula tribal communities in Pudukadu by supporting the community kitchen initiative from July till now, an official from the social welfare department said.
On January 31, Vennila was bestowed with 'Covid Women Warriors, the Real Heroes' award by minister of state for Jal Shakti Rattan Lal Kataria at a function held in New Delhi.