hether its fire or water, illegal gambling dens or a murderous father, India witnessed exemplary stories of brave kids over the last year.

And now, 18 children — seven girls and 11 boys — aged between 6 and 18 have been honoured with the National Bravery Award by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 24.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday presented the National Bravery Awards to 18 children, including two from Odisha, in a function in New Delhi. The two brave hearts are- Mamata Dalei from Kendrapada and Pankaj Kumar Mahanta of Keonjhar.
Dalai, a six-year-eight-month-old girl, from Bankual village within Bhitarkanika National Park of Kendrapada district was chosen for the award for saving the life of a seven-year-old Asanti Dalai from the jaws of a salt-water crocodile in her village pond on April 6, 2017.

Mamata and Asanti had gone to a nearby pond to take bath. The crocodile that had strayed into the village pond from a nearby river suddenly emerged out of the water and attacked Asanti. The five feet crocodile clamped its vice like jaws on her right hand. When the reptile dragged Asanti, the little girl Mamata fearlessly held Asanti’s left hand and tried to pull her hand from the jaws of the crocodile. Mamata attacked the reptile with utensil as a result of which the crocodile lost its grip and failed to drag Asanti into the deep water. She managed to drag Asanti to safety.

Now the little girl, a class-III student, is continuing her education in the Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS), a deemed to be university, in Bhubaneswar. KISS founder Achyuta Samanta and Bankuala villagers expressed their great pleasure for the achievement of the minor girl.

President Ramnath Kovind met Mamata on Tuesday and wished her a bright future. “A winner of National Bravery Award 2017, Mamata fearlessly fought off a crocodile to save her sister Asanti’s life,” tweeted president Kovind.

Prime minister also presented the bravery award to Pankaj Kumar Mahanta from Keonjhar for saving three lives from Baitarani river. The 14-year-old boy had pulled three women one by one from the river and gave them new lives.

The incident happened on May 22 last year. Three women, Baijayanti, 25, Pushpalata, 22, and Suchita, 34, entered into the river to take bath. While bathing, Baijayanti’s foot slipped on the loose sand and she fell into the deep and turbulent water. The other two women tried to res cue her but they too started drowning. Noticing this, Pankaj dived into the deep gorge. Putting himself in danger, he pulled all three of them out one by one.

Modi tweeted names of both the kids and said they are inspiration for everyone.

Chief minister Naveen Patnaik also congratulated both the kids. “Little did Mamata care for her own life when she fought a crocodile to save her sister nor did Pankaj who saved three women from drowning. Their indomitable courage inspires us all,” tweeted Naveen.