A tribal girl, who was awarded with ‘National Bravery Award’ for her exemplary courage to save her elder sister from the clutches of a Panther; is now in a very worst financial condition and struggling for livelihood. Due to the conservative traditions of the society, the early age marriage and so the child’s responsibility at young age has made this ‘National Bravery Award’ winner completely helpless. She doesn’t have any work as a source of income.
Hali Baraf was 15 year when the incident happened. She stays at Jamnacha Pada near Nandgaon on the Adgaon-Tansa road in Sahapur taluka with her family. Hali along with her sister Shakuntala had gone to collect firewood in the Tansa Sanctuary, when a Panther attacked Shakuntala. In this attack, the Panther attacked on Shakuntala’s back, legs and thighs and he was about to take her in the jungle. Horrified, Hali hurled huge stones at the panther, chasing it away and rescued her pregnant sister. Shakuntala was immediately taken to the hospital. In recognition of the courage shown by Hali at such a small age, she was honored in 2013 with the National Bravery Award by the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
Her exemplary courage was then included in academic book ‘Balbharti’ of fourth standard. The chapter named ‘Dhadsi Hali’ has been taught to children in the school. But unfortunately the girl who has inspired many is not able to take care of her own. Hali is struggling for the livelihood for self and the family. Since there are many people in the family and there is very less work to earn money, Hali is struggling for livelihood. She is now doing a work of cutting grass on just a hundred rupees wages. As she is the only income source to her family, she finds it very difficult with just hundred rupees of daily earning.
Hali Baraf, National Bravery Award winner
I was very happy to receive the award but it would have been better if I could get some work for my livelihood. When I got award from Delhi, I thought I would get the work and house also, but I got nothing than disappointments.
