Jamshedpur, April 14: It was a day to recognise consistent hard work and grit of fair power.

Five women Lata Khalkho, Kanta Sarkar, Basanti Hembrom, Mamta Bagh and Shanti Lata were recognised for their rare accomplishments at the 12th Bhanumathi Neelakantan Awards ceremony held at the DBMS School here this evening amid a gamut of cultural programmes staged by school students.

Thirty-year-old Lata Khalkho, who barely manages to walk, won the recognition in the physically challenged category.

Going down memory lane, Lata said she chugged the least taken path out of hunger. "I felt very hungry one day. When I approached my younger brothers, they hardly took notice. I had no money. That is when I thought of becoming independent," said Lata who started selling chapatis at a roadside stall.

Fifteen years on, she stands proud on her niece's feet. "Though I can't walk, my niece takes me along with her", said Lata mentioning that her niece, Rita, takes ample care of her and her paralytic mother.

Cut to the story of Kanta Sarkar. She supports a family of five after her husband suffered from mental depression. The recipient of the award in the woman entrepreneur category, this Baghbera resident takes immense pride in forming a group of 17 women from the general caste at her village. They are now aware of their rights.

"There was a time when general caste people did not get any facility owing to reservations on caste lines", she said mentioning that the cash award of Rs 10,000 would help her realise the dream of starting a pickle factory for women.

Basanti Hembrom, another proud recipient of the social awareness award, works as a field worker in a Tata Steel project. Born in a tribal family, she was not so pretty. She is satisfied at being able to enlighten the youth of her village. After having formed a self-help group, she is looking forward to start a sewing centre.

Efforts of 19-year-old Mamta Bagh, an orphan currently pursuing her intermediate course at Jamshedpur Women's College, was recognised in the academic achievement category.

Having scored the highest marks n Sanskrit in the secondary examination, Mamta doubles up as a teacher at Lilliput School, the afternoon school of DBMS for the under-privileged.