Hubballi girl to receive bravery award from PM

 One day during a summer vacation, Siya was playing with her four-year-old brother and cousins at her uncle’s house in Hubballi.

As the kids were heading towards the rooftop, Siya realised that her brother was nowhere to be seen.

She was then startled to find the boy still and speechless holding a live wire passing through an iron grill.

Siya realised what had happened but also knew that touching her brother would electrocute her too.

In a split-second decision, she held her brother’s shirt and pulled him towards her. Though the first effort was unsuccessful, she got her brother detached from the live wire in the second attempt.

As her brother fell unconscious with a wound on his palm, Siya screamed for help. Her parents rushed the boy to a hospital and his life was saved.

For showing such presence of mind and courage, 10-year-old Siya Vamansa Khode was selected as one of the winners of the National Bravery Awards, instituted by the Indian Council for Child Welfare (ICCW). The formal award ceremony will be held on January 23 during which Prime Minister Narendra Modi will bestow the award on her. President Pranab Mukherjee will also be present.

Siya will be one of the 25 children to take part in the Republic Day parade in New Delhi.

Asked about her ambition, Siya, a Class VII student at Sri Jagatguru Gangadhar High School, told DH that she would like to join the Indian Army.

The winners of bravery awards are granted financial assistance by the government till they complete their schooling. In addition, the ICCW provides financial assistance to those undertaking professional courses such as engineering and medicine. For others, the assistance is provided till they complete their graduation.