Chennai: A 30-year old woman driver of a heavy cargo truck was conferred the Tamil Nadu government's Kalpana Chawla Award for Courage and Daring Enterprise for 2015 by Chief Minister Jayalalithaa in Chennai today.
After hoisting the national flag and delivering her Independence Day address, Jayalalithaa honoured the awardee Jothimani Gowthaman at Fort St George in Chennai.
The award carries a cheque for Rs five lakh, a gold coated medal worth Rs 5,000 and a citation.
"Scarcity of drivers for long distance, heavy cargo trucks is among the reasons that prompted me to take up the job," Jothimani told PTI.
Her husband Gowthaman is a truck driver and it was he who encouraged her to take up the job. The couple, natives of Erode district, own a 10 wheeled heavy cargo truck bought on a loan from a vehicle financing firm. They often take turns to drive the truck.
She said she took the plunge in 2014 when she got a heavy driver's licence and began driving alone. On being asked what challenges she faced in a male dominated field, she said, "what challenges? I don't see any challenges, things are going on normally."
On the arduous journeys on highways involving continuous driving for weeks together, she said, "the job is the same, women too should adapt to the situation." The couple has a son Monick Subash and a daughter Vijaya Banu.
Jayalalithaa also gave away the first Dr APJ Abdul Kalam award to ISRO woman scientist N Valarmathi. It comprises an eight gram gold medal, Rs five lakh cheque and a citation.
The Chief Minister had instituted the award in Dr Kalam's name after the former President's demise last month.
The annual award is for a person from Tamil Nadu striving for scientific advancement, humanities or students welfare.
Ms Valarmathi was conferred the award as she was responsible for India's first indigenously developed Radar Imaging Satellite RISAT-1, launched in 2012.
"I dedicate the award to ISRO, I thank the government for the award," she said.
After hoisting the national flag and delivering her Independence Day address, Jayalalithaa honoured the awardee Jothimani Gowthaman at Fort St George in Chennai.
The award carries a cheque for Rs five lakh, a gold coated medal worth Rs 5,000 and a citation.
"Scarcity of drivers for long distance, heavy cargo trucks is among the reasons that prompted me to take up the job," Jothimani told PTI.
Her husband Gowthaman is a truck driver and it was he who encouraged her to take up the job. The couple, natives of Erode district, own a 10 wheeled heavy cargo truck bought on a loan from a vehicle financing firm. They often take turns to drive the truck.
She said she took the plunge in 2014 when she got a heavy driver's licence and began driving alone. On being asked what challenges she faced in a male dominated field, she said, "what challenges? I don't see any challenges, things are going on normally."
On the arduous journeys on highways involving continuous driving for weeks together, she said, "the job is the same, women too should adapt to the situation." The couple has a son Monick Subash and a daughter Vijaya Banu.
Jayalalithaa also gave away the first Dr APJ Abdul Kalam award to ISRO woman scientist N Valarmathi. It comprises an eight gram gold medal, Rs five lakh cheque and a citation.
The Chief Minister had instituted the award in Dr Kalam's name after the former President's demise last month.
The annual award is for a person from Tamil Nadu striving for scientific advancement, humanities or students welfare.
Ms Valarmathi was conferred the award as she was responsible for India's first indigenously developed Radar Imaging Satellite RISAT-1, launched in 2012.
Advertisement
"I dedicate the award to ISRO, I thank the government for the award," she said.
Advertisement
COMMENTS
Advertisement
"Jayalalithaa Backed Ram Mandir, Scrapping Of Article 370": Tamil Nadu BJP Chief PM Modi's "Remember Jayalalithaa" Jibe At DMK In BJP's Solo Tamil Nadu Fight Dead Leaders "Rise" In Tamil Nadu, As Deepfake Tools Warp Poll Campaign Karnataka's 100% Quota Bill For Kannadigas In Private Firms For These Posts Is Earth Orbiting Sun Or A Point In Space? Read This Fascinating Analysis Why IAS Officer Puja Khedkar's Training Has Been Put On Hold Trump Shooting Conspiracy Theories Viewed 215 Million Times On X: Report Days After Rally Scare, Man With AK-47 Arrested Near Trump's Party Event Why IAS Officer Puja Khedkar's Training Has Been Put On Hold Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.